Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 20, 2008 Adar2 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:39 (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

Last update - 21:36 19/03/2008 A special normalcy By Haaretz Editorial Tags: WWII, Germany, Israel Ever since World War II, Germany's leaders have sought to make their country "normal." Its participation in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of "that war," and the festivities that Germany, along with her former enemies, held in honor of the liberation from the Nazi yoke, gave "normalcy" a meaning it had never had before. Some would draw a straight line between those events and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's current visit to Israel. Her visit did not generate front-page headlines here; in the public discourse, Germany has become an almost "normal" partner of the Jewish state. How can this be explained? In the first place, Merkel's visit was not the first visit to Israel by a German chancellor. Omitting Konrad Adenauer - who was no longer chancellor when he visited here in 1966 - still leaves us with visits by Willy Brandt, Helmut Kohl (twice) and Gerhard Schroeder. Presidents Richard von Weizsacker, Roman Herzog, Johannes Rau and Horst Koehler also visited Israel, and the latter two also addressed the Knesset, in German. Second, and more importantly, Germany is currently Israel's best friend in Europe, and perhaps even in the world, excepting the United States. It stands out in the European Union for being willing to support Israel under difficult circumstances and for working to balance anti-Israel resolutions in international forums. It initiated the Essen Declaration, which gave Israel "special status" in the EU, and led the exceptional process that brought Israel into the EU's research and development program. Germany was the first to stand beside Israel during the Gulf War, it built submarines for Israel at no cost, and it has worked tirelessly to help Israel's captives and MIAs. Advertisement Third, Merkel herself has a special relationship with Israel, different from that of some of her predecessors. Her visit here is her third of the last two years. She feels a deep responsibility toward Israel, both because of the Holocaust and because of the actions of East Germany in which she grew up, whose hostility toward Israel was exceptional even by Soviet-bloc standards. This "consistent and loyal friend of the State of Israel," as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert termed her in the Knesset yesterday, is "the architect of the upgraded relationship" between the two countries. Merkel came here at the head of a large delegation that included captains of German industry, members of parliament and eight senior cabinet ministers. The latter participated in the two governments' first joint cabinet session, thereby establishing an annual "consultative forum" such as Germany previously had only with France and Poland. In her speech to the Knesset, which she opened and closed in Hebrew, Merkel promised to work to halt Iran's nuclearization, to fight anti-Semitism and to strive for closer relations between Israel and the EU. She also expressed solidarity with Israel's efforts to cope with terror attacks and Qassam rockets, and above all, she stressed her country's "everlasting responsibility" for the Holocaust. What to many Israelis looks today like a "normal" relationship remains, in the eyes of Merkel's Germany, a "special" relationship that requires constant investment - "in words and deeds." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Free interpretation Yesha rabbinical council ruled it is forbidden for Jews to employ Arabs. Little Africa Tel Aviv is setting up a tent city to improve the living conditions of African refugees.   1.   Normalcy 22:53  |  Arne Allée 19/03/08   2.   same what ur doing to the palestinians 01:48  |  Omar 20/03/08   3.   Dear Mrs. Merkel, as a Zionist first & a sentimental Jew second.. 02:07  |  Anthony Fallon 20/03/08   4.   Just what value does Angela Merkel 02:26  |  Che Vive 20/03/08   5.   @Mr. Fallon 03:38  |  kurt 20/03/08   6.   a special norlmalcy 05:44  |  martin list, m.d. 20/03/08   7.   Lessons from the past 11:33  |  Tilman 20/03/08

Today Online Yesha rabbi: Jewish law forbids renting houses to Arabs Responses: 112 Palestinian Americans warned of security profiling at B-G Airport Responses: 68 Egypt agrees to take over as Gaza power supplier Responses: 25 Shmuel Rosner: U.S. Mideast pressure - just a lazy routine Responses: 2 Abe Foxman: Anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem Responses: 1 More Headlines 11:17 Palestinian medics: IDF troops kill civilian in Gaza 09:32 Egypt agrees to take over as Gaza power supplier 10:08 Student who helped kill gunman defends cop who didn't pursue him 11:25 Becoming Amy Winehouse... but just for Purim 08:14 McCain: Iranian threat to U.S. linked to Hamas, Hezbollah aid 08:23 Jewish Agency mulls closing its historic immigration department 08:28 Palestinian Americans warned of security profiling at B-G Airport 10:20 Israel, U.S. commanders test 'extreme' scenarios in joint drill 11:08 Bin Laden to Europe: We will avenge your 'Crusade against Islam' 08:13 Obama belittles McCain for confusing Shi'ite and Sunni extremists 00:39 Rubinstein international piano competition / Cause for vexation 09:44 Sheldon Adelson wins millions in damages from British newspaper Previous Editions Select Day 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved