Today (Sunday), President Yitzhak Herzog hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a private lunch at the President's House during her last visit to the post.
Herzog hosted Merkel at the President's House: "One of the most important leaders in the world in the modern age" // Photo: Avi Kenner, GPO // Recorder: Uri Bouzaglo, GPO
At the end of the meeting, the President surprised the Chancellor with a special gift and, together with the President of the Weizmann Institute, awarded her an honorary scholarship in her name to outstanding scientists at the Weizmann Institute.
The Dr. Angela Merkel Postdoctoral Fellowship will be awarded once a year by a senior committee of scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Scientists who have proven excellence in their fields of research, especially in the fields of physics and chemistry.
Merkel also received a framed copy from Herzog of the certificate indicating the honorary scholarship, in the presence of the president of the Weizmann Institute, Prof. Alon Chen.
Chancellor Merkel with President Herzog and his wife Michal, Photo: Haim Tzach / GPO
"You are a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people and we will forever remember that," President Herzog told Merkel.
"One of the most important leaderships in the world in the modern age. We have a lot to learn from you and we had a great conversation about ways to deal together with the war on anti-Semitism, past memory and future generation education based on our common values. On behalf of the people of Israel I thank you for your leadership. In your tremendous contribution to the strength of the Israel-Germany relationship. "
Herzog later said: "There can be no more fitting tribute to Angela Merkel, a scientist by training and leader in advancing women in the world of science, than a post-doctoral scholarship named after outstanding scientists. During her 16 years as German Chancellor, Angela has been a tremendous leader, It will be her eternal heritage. "
Referring to the 1985 meeting of German and Israeli Presidents Richard von Weitzker and Chaim Herzog, the president's father, who promoted relations between the two countries, Merkel said: "It is a pleasure for me to leave my post knowing that our relations are as good as they are. It fills us with optimism. To know that our governments will continue the important education for the memory of the Holocaust. "
The Chancellor thanked President Herzog for the gift, stressing that "it is very important that we continue to advance women in science and technology."