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German Chancellor was on a day-long visit to Israel
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of Germany’s “everlasting responsibility” to oppose anti-Semitism during a visit to Israel on Thursday as she and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed past their differences and promoted cooperation between their nations. The one-day visit by Ms. Merkel and members of her cabinet was part of German-Israeli government consultations held regularly, but came after Mr. Netanyahu’s harsh criticism of European countries over their efforts to keep alive the Iran nuclear deal. Germany and other European countries have also repeatedly hit out at Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank and warned over threats to remaining prospects for a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. But both leaders seemed determined to have the visit run smoothly, greeting each other warmly after Mr. Merkel’s arrival on Wednesday night and touring an innovation exhibit together on Thursday. Ms. Merkel began the day with a visit to Israel’s Holocaust Memorial high in the hills above Jerusalem. After laying a wreath in the Yad Vashem Memorial’s solemn Hall of Remembrance, where an eternal flame burns, she spoke of Germany’s responsibility as the perpetrator of the Holocaust.
“From this comes the everlasting responsibility of Germany to remember this crime and to oppose anti-Semitism, xenophobia, hatred and violence,” she said, reading out the message she wrote in the memorial’s guest book. Later, after receiving an honorary doctorate from Israel’s Haifa University, she answered questions from students and touched on the Iran nuclear deal. Mr. Netanyahu has urged European nations to follow the lead of U.S. President Donald Trump and withdraw from the accord with his country’s main enemy. Germany, like other signatories to the deal, says it is preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now. Ms. Merkel noted the Iranian presence in neighbouring Syria and how that has exacerbated the threat from Israel’s enemy.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/merkel-pledges-german-fight-against-anti-semitism/article25127910.ece
