Last update - 00:00 18/03/2008
Merkel offers 'tough, decisive' language on Iran nuke program
By Barak Ravid and Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondents
After a touching visit to Sde Boker on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's diplomatic mission turned into a full-fledged embrace Monday. The show of support by Merkel and her ministers reached its climax in a joint meeting with the Israeli cabinet.
But most encouraging of all were the comments she made in an earlier meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about Iran. Merkel's remarks about the Iranian nuclear program in that meeting were described by several of those present as being "tough and decisive."
During their joint press conference, Olmert and Merkel said their countries were united in their concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and that they agree on the need to stop its enrichment of uranium.
Olmert said the two countries view Iran's continued efforts to develop nuclear arms very similarly - "with grave concern." He said they also agree about the need to continue taking action to halt Iran's nuclear program.
Speaking after Olmert, Merkel, who is on her third visit here, said that Germany considers the threats against Israel as "threats against us" as well.
"We agree that we must do all we can to put as much pressure as possible on Iran, through Security Council measures and also through talks within the European Union," she added.
"Germany is counting on a diplomatic solution. We're counting on a solution in which as many [countries] as possible are included. Iran must show that it is not working on a nuclear [weapons] program," she said.
Merkel and Olmert co-chaired the historic joint session of the German and Israeli cabinets, at which the two governments signed off on a range of projects in the fields of education, the environment and defense. The two sides also agreed to hold such meetings once a year, alternating as hosts.
This was the first time the two countries' cabinets had met for joint consultations, and the first time the German government has held a joint cabinet session with a country from outside Europe.
As opposed to at most Israeli cabinet meetings, the ministers were quiet and paid careful attention to all the speakers. German ministers were generous with their praise of Israel and its economy and sciences.
"When you're talking about relations with any country, it's a very impressive event," Olmert said of the meeting. "But when it's relations between the state of Israel and Germany, it's something with content, significance and symbolism that are incomparably deep."
A joint statement issued afterward said the two sides are seeking to "strengthen and intensify their political, cultural, economic and social relations as a partnership of democratic and pluralistic nations."
Germany already has similar arrangements with France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Russia. However, this is the first time Israel has entered into such an arrangement.
One of Israel's top European allies
The new cooperation deal underscores Germany's role as one of Israel's staunchest political allies in Europe. The countries established diplomatic relations in 1965. Today, Germany is Israel's second biggest trading partner, after the United States.
Merkel also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem Monday, the second day of her three-day visit, which was made in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary. Accompanied by Olmert and eight ministers from each government, she attended a memorial service there for the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II.
Referring to the historic joint Israeli-German cabinet session, Merkel signed Yad Vashem's guest book with the following statement: "In recognition of Germany's responsibility for the Shoah, the German government underlines with the first German-Israeli consultations its determination for a joint shaping of the future."
Despite requests from Holocaust survivors' organizations, Merkel did not meet with them. Her spokesman said that scheduling pressures left no time for such a meeting.
Another issue that is not expected to arise during the visit is the reopening of the 1952 Reparations Agreement - something that Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan had demanded three months ago.
Merkel made it clear in interviews with the Israeli media before her visit that this issue will not be under discussion.
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