Merkel in Israel Sunday for farewell visit

• Published date: 09 October 2021
• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Looking forward to a rich program that will strengthen our unique [Israel-German] relationship," Germany's Ambassador to Israel Susanne Wasum-Rainer tweeted in advance of the visit.

This will be Merkel's seventh official trip to the Jewish state since she took office in 2005. Merkel has been a strong ally and friend of Israel during her tenure at the country's helm.

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The exact date of Merkel's departure from office is unknown. She is expected to remain the head of Germany's caretaker government until a new one is formed in the aftermath of the country's September 28th election.

On Sunday, she will speak with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog and attend a dinner hosted by Bennett.

In addition, she will meet with the cabinet, visit Yad Vashem World Holocaust Memorial Center and receive an honorary degree from Haifa's Technion-Israel Institute of Technology at a ceremony in Jerusalem.

During her last visit to Israel in 2018, when she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa, Merkel spoke about the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust.

"We are at an important time because those who witnessed the Nazis are passing away. We therefore have to fight to preserve this memory and need to be aware of how we preserve memory in a world where there are no longer witnesses to these crimes," she said.

On Monday, Merkel will participate in a round table conversation in Jerusalem with Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security...