Israel and Germany both live in times of political upheaval.
For their presidents this is an occasion to emphasize the similarities.
During the state visit, Federal President Steinmeier makes a commitment.
Berlin - Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has promised Germany's partnership to Israel under a new federal government.
"Germany will continue to stand by Israel's side, and Israel can continue to count on my country's friendship," he said in his dinner speech at the state banquet in Jerusalem. "No matter how quickly the world changes, no matter who will be Chancellor in the near future, we will do our best to continue to do justice to the unique friendship between Israel and Germany in the future," said the Federal President, according to an earlier announcement Speech manuscript.
Steinmeier arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a three-day state visit.
He was greeted with military honors by President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday.
He then had a detailed conversation with him as well as with his already elected successor Izchak Herzog.
Steinmeier later met with the new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Jair Lapid.
For the first time in a long time without Netanyahu and Merkel
Rivlin and Steinmeier emphasized the common interests in view of the political upheavals in their countries.
An eight-party coalition has recently been in power in Israel, and a change of government is looming in Germany in the federal elections this fall.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will withdraw from politics.
Both states fought against anti-Semitism, racism and hatred, said Rivlin in his address before the conversation with Steinmeier.
Merkel is a "close comrade-in-arms".
Like Rivlin, Steinmeier also pointed out the destabilizing effects of Iran for the entire region.
"Our concern is that we must in any case prevent Iran from armed with nuclear weapons." At most, Germany and Israel disagree on the question of how this could be done.
No alternative to two-state solution?
Steinmeier also went into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"In the end, there will be no good future without a political solution," he emphasized.
He has really not heard of any alternatives to the two-state solution.
At the moment, the main thing is to "build a minimum of trust between the new Israeli leadership and the Palestinian side."
After the talks with Bennett and Lapid, Steinmeier said his impression was that there was the necessary willingness to compromise on all sides in the eight-party coalition.
"But not only that: I was also able to feel the firm will that this should not be a coalition for a short time, but that we are preparing for durability, for a permanent government."
Steinmeier and Rivlin are close friends and used the visit to say goodbye to each other. His friendship with Steinmeier is "proof that relationships between peoples are based on personal meetings," said Rivlin. Steinmeier assured him: "Dear Ruvi, your term of office ends, our friendship remains." Dpa
