A brave friendship that does not ignore the wounds of history Israel today

The Holocaust is the most horrific crime in human history.

We, the Speaker of the Knesset and the President of the Bundestag, bow our heads in memory of the six million Jewish people who were murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany.

For the first time in the history of our inter-parliamentary relations, we were mutually invited to mark together the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 in Germany, and the Holocaust Martyrs 'and Heroes' Remembrance Day in Israel, which began last night (Wednesday).

Holocaust commemoration is essential for drawing lessons from the past to secure its future, especially since every year fewer Holocaust survivors are left to tell their stories.

Levy's speech in the Bundestag, Photo: IPI

Our joint commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust shows how strong the friendship between our countries is.

This is an important friendship, which does not suppress the wounds of history, and which acknowledges the historical guilt of the German people for the irreversible loss of the Jewish people, its heritage and its communities.

Aware of the past, we are committed to fighting anti-Semitism in all its forms, including Holocaust denial and distortion.

We strongly condemn all forms of criticism of Israel that cause the demonization of the Jewish people and deprive Israel of its right to exist.

Together we want to work towards a better future.

Our parliaments, which represent the public, have a special role to play in this regard.

Many members of parliament from Israel and Germany pay mutual visits and meet their counterparts.

Last March, the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag visited Israel, and even met with the chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of Israel and Germany has existed since 1971.

In 2015, our parliamentary relations took another step with the establishment of the German-Israeli Interparliamentary Forum, which promotes cooperation in resolving current issues.

We intend to make greater use of this forum again and enter it in the near future.

Moreover, millions of Israelis and Germans visited the other country.

We have 266 programs for academic cooperation between institutions of higher education, mutual funds and grants to promote Israeli-German research in the fields of science and technology.

There are also more than 100 twin cities and dozens of other student exchange programs.

Israel-Germany relations are close to our hearts.

We are aware of the sensitivity, but recognize the importance of our shared commemoration today.

We have achieved a lot, and we have built a unique partnership that is also based on liberal values ​​that few thought was possible after the Holocaust.

The common path that our friends have paved can bring a positive benefit to the world, and in the face of crises.

Together, Israel and Germany, the Knesset and the Bundestag, we stand firm for the world order based on democratic rules and values ​​- and for the restoration of humanity and peace around the world.

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