Angela Merkel by Stefan Kornelius

Author:Stefan Kornelius
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Alma Books
Published: 2014-01-18T15:00:32.789000+00:00

The Light of Zion

The Fascination of Israel

Angela Merkel's foreign policy is above all carefully controlled, measured and flexible. If it is likely to contribute to a positive outcome, then she will always leave room for compromise. But there is one exception: Israel. Merkel's relationship with Israel is a wholly emotional one. The Chancellor is rarely as passionate and single-minded than when it comes to the State of Israel and the Jews. Israel forms the basis of her foreign-policy axis – comparable in significance to the European Union and the USA. It is Merkel's deeply held conviction that Israel is part of Germany's raison d’être as a state. This has been the subject of much intense debate, and yet such discussions leave Merkel unmoved. She has developed a profound connection with Israel and the Jews. Her understanding of German history, and thus the historical context of the direction taken by her policies as Chancellor, is inextricably bound up with the Shoah, the annihilation of the Jews by Germans. Consequently, her policy towards Israel, her respect and support for the Jewish way of life and the interpretation of its history are a major priority. Merkel is unequivocal on the subject: she loves the country, and in Germany's historical involvement with Israel she sees a national duty that goes beyond anything envisaged by her predecessors.

It is not quite clear where this deeply felt proximity to Israel originated. Even those who are closest to her and have witnessed her at decisive moments in matters of foreign policy cannot really provide an answer. Merkel has established close connections with many representatives of Jewish life in Germany, and keeps in touch with the more important factions in Israeli politics. She has a particularly good relationship with the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert.

Her inner circle of advisers serves as a sounding board when it comes to Israel: Beate Baumann has a particular interest in the history of relationships with Israel and the significance of the Holocaust. Christoph Heusgen maintains strategic contact, especially when Merkel acts as mediator in the peace process; the former minister of state in the Chancellery, Hildegard Müller, and her successor Eckart von Klaeden, are responsible for social contact with the Jewish community. For years – at Merkel's request – Müller was chairman of the German-Israeli group of MPs, and has an excellent network of contacts in Israel. Finally, there is Shimon Stein, the Israeli Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2007. Merkel developed a personal friendship with him that continued after his time as ambassador – Stein has a level of access to her that only two or three other ambassadors enjoy. He has characteristics that allow such relationships to work: he is passionate and hot-headed, enjoys a debate, knows how to be discreet and likes opera – always an advantage in getting to know Merkel and especially her husband.

The reason for Merkel's strong feelings for Israel and the Jews do not lie only in her personal history. In interviews she

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