Herzog pays tribute to Angela Merkel ahead of German elections

• Author: GREER FAY CASHMAN
• Published date: 24 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Merkel is the first German chancellor to have been born after the Second World War, the first woman to serve in the role, and the third longest-serving chancellor overall, after Otto von Bismark and Helmut Kohl.

Given Israel's special relationship with Germany, it seemed obvious that an Israeli politician, current or former, would be included in the international line-up. Logically, it also seemed obvious that the most likely person would be former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister who has had more dealings with Merkel than any other Israeli politician.

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But as it was, the Die Zeit editors did not choose Netanyahu.

Instead, they opted for President Isaac Herzog, who first met Merkel in 2007, when as minister for welfare and social services, he was rostered to greet her on arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport. He was also set to meet her in his present capacity as president at the end of August, but Merkel, confronted with a new refugee crisis brought on by the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, canceled her scheduled farewell visit to Israel, although she will reportedly be visiting from October 11 instead.

Herzog wrote that he has watched Merkel with admiration "as she established herself as one of the greatest world leaders of the modern era. Her rise from the repressive reality of East Germany to the summit of the liberal world order is a striking symbol of the promise of the twenty-first century. Her commitment to statecraft based on moral principles will be her enduring legacy."

Herzog also commended Merkel for her personal commitment to Holocaust commemoration and to Israel's security...