Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 17, 2008 Adar2 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:27 (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

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AP) Last update - 18:15 15/03/2008 Merkel: Threats that Israel faces are also threats to Germany By Reuters Tags: Iran, Germany, Israel German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed solidarity with Israel over the threats it faces Saturday, the eve of a three-day visit to the country, and said Iran must halt its nuclear program. "The threats to which the Israeli state is exposed are also threats to us," Merkel said in her weekly podcast. She said she would underline on the trip that "the Iranian nuclear program cannot continue and Iran must finally play to international rules." Advertisement Merkel becomes the first German chancellor to address Israel's parliament next week, more than six decades after the end of World War Two. A senior German official called the trip "a signal of the normalization of relations," referring to improving German-Israeli ties following the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany killed 6 million Jews. Merkel will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers and launch annual consultations between the governments. Talks on Monday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will include discussion of Iran's nuclear program. The statutes of the Knesset were changed to allow Merkel to speak there. Before the changes wre made, the only German official allowed to address the chamber was the president, the head of state. Johannes Rau asked for forgiveness for crimes committed by Germans against Jews when he became the first German president to address the Knesset in 2000. A small number of Knesset members opposed Merkel making her address in German. At least one has threatened to walk out, saying the sound of the German language would be "irritating" as long as Holocaust survivors were still alive in Israel. Merkel has told Israeli leaders Germany has a "special historical responsibility" towards their country, but she also urged them to focus on building ties for the decades ahead. "In all remembrance of the past, we should above all direct our look towards the future," she said in a television interview. Some commentators say Merkel has been less vocal in her public criticism of Israel than her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, on issues including military action in the West Bank, Several business leaders and Germany's foreign, economy, justice, defense, family, environment and education ministers are to accompany Merkel on her trip, during which she is also due to visit the tomb of Israel's founder, David Ben-Gurion. "This visit is important. The goal is to upgrade the bilateral relationship between the two governments," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Germany is one of six major powers involved in efforts to ensure Iran does not develop atomic weapons. Tehran says it nuclear program is intended only to produce electricity. "Because of the historic background, Israel is expecting more from Germany than from other European Union partners on international issues, including Iran," said Patrick Mueller of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. "Israel expects Germany to say very clearly that Iran's actions are perceived as a concrete threat by Israel." Germany joined the five permanent United Nations Security Council members Russia, United States, France, Britain and China earlier this year in circulating a proposal for a third sanctions resolution against Iran, which the Council voted this month. The German government signaled last year it was willing to raise the pensions of Holocaust survivors, but Merkel said such payments would not be on the agenda of next week's talks. Related articles: MKs approve Merkel's request to address Knesset in German German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Chancellor's visit Angela Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties. London paying Netanyahu says PR trip to U.K. wasn't funded by Israeli taxpayer.   1.   Merkel-Ahmadinejad, why this unholy alliance? 14:15  |  Jonathan S 14/03/08   2.   Merkel-Olmert, two sides of the same coin 14:15  |  Jonathan S 14/03/08   3.   Normalizing ties: Former Jew killers to meet Jewish killers 14:52  |  Richter 14/03/08   4.   Richter: Current Fool Seeks To Recruit Future Fools 15:08  |  Tex 14/03/08   5.   foolish one 15:28  |  Justin 14/03/08   6.   This visit is a victory for Israel and a defeat for Israel haters 15:39  |  Conroy 14/03/08   7.   I hope Richter will meet one too sooon 15:47  |  Ilya 14/03/08   8.   To Richter 16:52  |  Jozef 14/03/08   9.   The German Language 17:06  |  Peretz Markish 14/03/08   10.   Relations will never be "Normal." And Germany helps Iran 18:25  |  Albert 14/03/08   11.   Merkel`s speech in the Knesset 19:01  |  Paul Wood 14/03/08   12.   #8, Josef: Israel unable to compare against other democracies? 19:24  |  JJ 14/03/08   13.   Not many Western leaders left to polish Israel`s image 19:30  |  Soap 14/03/08   14.   Merkel can help to bring down Apartheid wall 19:36  |  Mandela 14/03/08   15.   #14 Mandela the wall is justified 20:31  |  Conroy 14/03/08   16.   l not get a better friend than Angie Merkel 20:36  |  Alan 14/03/08   17.   #6,15 Conroy: Merkel coming to prepare ME peace summit in Berlin 20:54  |  Mandela 14/03/08   18.   Conroy (#6): Good post, but only half-way home 06:42  |  Morris Valentine 15/03/08   19.   #3 Richter 10:04  |  Germany 15/03/08   20.   Merkel and Germany, an ally to be trusted? 10:10  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   21.   obviously merkel does not represent her people 13:38  |  i know them 15/03/08   22.   Merkel speaking for (part of ) the German "classe politique"..... 15:38  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/03/08   23.   # i know them# 15:40  |  Marco 15/03/08   24.   # 22 swiss 16:44  |  Axel 15/03/08   25.   No to Iran`s nuclear program. 16:59  |  Jean Van Daem 15/03/08   26.   How can Merkel do what she does? 17:05  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   27.   visiting Israel and Palestine 17:28  |  peter 15/03/08   28.   Merkel, false friends and friends 17:42  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   29.   Israeli stupidity 18:02  |  Ulrich 15/03/08   30.   She is a hypocrite and moron 18:10  |  Marilyn 15/03/08   31.   Bad day to be a muslim terrorist 18:27  |  Johnny 15/03/08   32.   Merkel , when you start talking 18:48  |  Ray 15/03/08   33.   Refreshing 18:58  |  Baz Mann 15/03/08   34.   #22 & ~24 Swiss and Axel 18:58  |  French observer 15/03/08   35.   # 28 19:02  |  Axel 15/03/08   36.   Merkel`s visit. 19:02  |  David Nigel Braham 15/03/08   37.   refreshing, you say? 19:25  |  hollingsworth 15/03/08   38.   I thought that Germany 19:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/03/08   39.   paving the way to paving iran 19:42  |  frenz 15/03/08   40.   Merkel is a partiot; Ulrich #24--is a pinhead! 20:12  |  US CITIZEN 15/03/08   41.   @ French Observer 20:14  |  Alex 15/03/08   42.   Jonathan S # 28 20:31  |  OTTO 15/03/08   43.   #36 Alex 20:33  |  French observer 15/03/08   44.   Jonathan S # 28 20:53  |  OTTO 15/03/08   45.   Jonathan S # 28 21:02  |  OTTO 15/03/08   46.   No matter whether Germans are antisemites or philoseimites, they 21:43  |  Andreas 15/03/08   47.   Andreas #46 22:44  |  OTTO 15/03/08   48.   Jonathan S 23:00  |  OTTO 15/03/08   49.   For Otto #42 23:19  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   50.   Lame excuses Otto #44 23:20  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   51.   Otto and the fairy tale about the German subs #45 23:22  |  Jonathan S 15/03/08   52.   Zzz. not one more in this world 01:31  |  zac 16/03/08   53.   Jonathan S 03:40  |  Alex 16/03/08   54.   @ #42 Jonathan S 03:58  |  Alex 16/03/08   55.   @ 46 Andreas 04:04  |  Alex 16/03/08   56.   Angie looks nice on that photo 04:07  |  Alex 16/03/08   57.   Jonathan S # 51 10:55  |  OTTO 16/03/08   58.   #35 so you represent the other 25%? haha 19:24  |  Aaron 16/03/08   59.   Manela you are delusional 17:23  |  Conroy 17/03/08

Today Online Next IAF chief: Ground operation needed to stop rocket attacks Responses: 74 Editorial: U.S. pressure for peace is welcome pressure Responses: 31 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab W. Bank lands Responses: 61 Rightists arrested for storming village of yeshiva terrorist Responses: 130 PA to rebuild home of Islamic Jihad leader killed in IDF raid Responses: 35 Rosner's Domain From "Hussein" to "Murray" (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Jeremiah Wright: did Obama explain enough? If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? More Headlines 16:25 Officials: Israel, PA negotiators held secret talks last week 17:17 PM: No chance Israel will cede E. Jerusalem areas like Har Homa 15:49 Poll: IDF raids boost popularity of Hamas in W. Bank and Gaza 17:20 Ex-diplomat: Syria talks could resume soon after U.S. elections 15:40 Olmert accompanies Merkel to Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial 15:52 Tel Aviv stock exchange loses 9% of its value in 3 trading days 15:07 Sephardic Chief Rabbi comes under attack over conversions 15:12 Rabbi of northern town detained on sexual assault charges 11:23 Top police officer slams police response to E. Jerusalem clash 15:50 Wiesel declines Israel's 60th honor, cites prior commitments 13:40 Next IAF chief: IDF's entry into Gaza will stop rocket manufacture 13:23 Environment Ministry issues advisory on unusually high air pollution 12:24 Egyptians fire on Sudanese men crossing into Israel, wound one