Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 13, 2008 Adar1 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:33 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visiting Holocaust monument in Germany on Monday. (DPO) Last update - 16:48 11/02/2008 German Jewish leader: No need for aliyah agency like Nativ here By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and DPA Tags: Germany, Angela Merkel  BERLIN - German Jewish leaders told visiting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday they were not interested in Israel's offers to expand the Nativ agency's operations to Germany. Nativ, a semi-covert agency founded within the Prime Minister's Office in the 1950s, deals mainly with helping Jews from the former Soviet Union immigrate to Israel. During his tenure as minister of strategic affairs, MK Avigdor Lieberman proposed opening a Nativ agency office in the Israel Embassy in Berlin, and to start encouraging immigration to Israel among some 200,000 Russian-speaking Jews who have recently emigrated to Germany. Advertisement Stefan Kramer, general secretary of the Central Council of German Jews, said following talks with the prime minister on Monday that there was no need for such a program to draw Jews to make aliyah, as recommended by Lieberman during his tenure as minister of strategic affairs. Kramer told reporters that German Jews were satisfied with the help being given to them by the Jewish Agency and other sources, and saw no reason to employ other such agencies in Germany. However, Kramer added, if for political reasons such a program was instated, the German Jewish community was prepared to cooperate. Olmert told Kramer he would initiate further discussion on the matter, in light of Lieberman's resignation last month from the government. Nativ operated in the former Soviet Union (FSU) to help bring Jews to Israel and as a liaison to Jewish dissidents. Since the Soviet Union's collapse, it has dealt with processing immigration to Israel and running Israeli FSU culture centers. PM: Security forces may use every means to stop rockets Olmert said on Monday that he sympathized with the pain experienced by Sderot residents who are victim to constant rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, adding that security forces were permitted to take every possible measure to end the current situation there. "I totally feel the pain of Sderot residents like I felt the pain of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv residents - every city has gone through a period of dealing with strife," Olmert said during a visit to the Jewish Museum in Berlin. Olmert, who arrived in Berlin on Sunday evening, was devoting Monday largely to private engagements, before holding talks Tuesday with Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Horst Koehler. "Sderot residents justifiably want what every citizen of every state in the world gets and want to live without threat," the prime minister said. "This won't happen in one day, but it will happen. The security forces have permission to operate in every way possible to change this situation. I believe the situation will change. Olmert on Monday visited Berlin's Jewish Museum to inspect artefacts and documents bearing witness to 2,000 years of the Jewish community in Central Europe. Berlin's Jewish Museum, designed by U.S. architect Daniel Liebeskind, is one of the newer landmarks in the German capital and has drawn more than 4 million visitors since being opened in 2001. Olmert is to discuss Iran's nuclear program with Merkel. The visit is set to end Tuesday night. The two leaders are also to discuss a planned meeting of cabinet ministers from both countries to take place in Israel in March to mark 60 years since the Jewish state was founded. Olmert's stay in a hotel near the zoo in west Berlin has forced the rerouting of some buses on security grounds. Police have mounted a tight security operation and have announced they will block all traffic when the prime minister's motorcade passes through the city. In her weekly message to Germany on Saturday, Merkel repeated that a close relationship with Israel was a key pillar of German foreign policy. The aim was a "safe, stable Israel," she said. "Our mutual aim is that peace and stability be established in the region. That is why we support a two-state solution: A Jewish state of Israel as well as a Palestinian state," Merkel said. Related articles: PM: Terror can't be wiped out in one fell swoop Unholy row in Germany over 'anti-religious' kid's book German cabinet will visit Israel to mark Jewish state's 60th year Fun Munich carnival held on Holocaust remembrance day angers Jews More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gore wins TAU prize Al Gore and Amos OZ are among the recipients of the 2008 Dan David Prize. Spring roll strike Asian eateries across Israel cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs.   1.   Is it `maybe` or `definitely maybe`? 13:43  |  Nechama 11/02/08   2.   Use every means to stop the rockets? 14:08  |  Natallie Durson 11/02/08   3.   Every state in the world does not include palistine 14:42  |  Bob Jobbs 11/02/08   4.   I nominate Durson 14:46  |  Sam 11/02/08   5.   Hollow phrases from Merkel 14:58  |  Jonathan S 11/02/08   6.   To Bob 15:06  |  Louis 11/02/08   7.   to louise 15:16  |  Bobb Jobbs 11/02/08   8.   safe, stable isr w.o. safe, stable plstn? 15:39  |  bozhidar balkas 11/02/08   9.   #4 Sam 16:25  |  MR 11/02/08   10.   Nativ Agency should be moved to Antartic.. 16:28  |  Stephen. 11/02/08   11.   Dejavu all over again! What is it about the Diasporas attachment 16:28  |  David Turner 11/02/08   12.   Durson 17:04  |  Harry Turner 11/02/08   13.   Why would ANYONE move to Germany...Jews I mean 17:20  |  NYC American 11/02/08   14.   Natalie #2 hamas sings I wish they all could be california girls 17:22  |  Robert 11/02/08   15.   Bob Jobbs#3 17:26  |  Robert 11/02/08   16.   #8 Bozihar try that in English 17:32  |  Robert 11/02/08   17.   Re; Robert 18:24  |  Bobb Jobbs 11/02/08   18.   # 13 Russians jews moving to Germany 18:34  |  Peter 11/02/08   19.   Jews in Germany 18:37  |  MiriamL. 11/02/08   20.   MiriamL on Russian Jews 18:57  |  Eugene 11/02/08   21.   # 13 nyc 19:41  |  Axel 11/02/08   22.   # 19 miriam 19:47  |  Axel 11/02/08   23.   russian jews - to miriam 20:11  |  felix 11/02/08   24.   Artificial Jewish life in Germany #19 21:12  |  Jonathan S 11/02/08   25.   Jonathan, you have a quite romantic idea about judaism 22:50  |  christoph 11/02/08   26.   Jonathan de la Mancha 00:15  |  Axel 12/02/08   27.   German Jews 00:28  |  Connie 12/02/08   28.   18 00:48  |  loyal 12/02/08   29.   All of you criticizing #19 01:24  |  Oleh 12/02/08   30.   Russians in Germany 00:37  |  Miriam L. 13/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Sderot as Stalingrad, Hamas as Samson Responses: 162 Ahmed Yousef: Palestinian revenge was inevitable Responses: 153 Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on Arab village Responses: 185 Majadele: New Arab city will bolster our sense of belonging Responses: 83 Krakow church holds service slamming 'kikes who spit on us' Responses: 242 Rosner's Domain Guest: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Obama is gaining momentum- also within the Jews Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 03:35 Olmert says borders issue will be solved first 23:16 Dov Alfon named as new Haaretz editor-in-chief 02:47 Barak says Ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' 22:50 IDF soldier moderately hurt in stabbing attack near Jenin 18:59 Majadele: New Arab city will bolster our sense of belonging 19:16 Poland won't sue author of book on post-WWII anti-Semitism 04:00 Argentine Jews mourn car crash death of prominent rabbi, aged 37 02:50 Senior Shas officials: Rabbi Yosef not ready to quit coalition 23:55 Merkel to PM: We'll push for more Iran sanctions 19:03 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation 23:03 FM to attend Lantos memorial service in Washington, may meet Rice 19:45 Prosecutor rejects appeal in case of killing of Palestinian girl 21:39 Police: Criminal bombings, other arms offenses up dramatically in north Previous Editions Select Day 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan

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