Israel's new ambassador in Berlin, Ron Proschauer, yesterday presented the letter of the treaty to the German president, Frank Walter Steinmeier, and officially began his duties.
Immediately after the ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Proschauer held a moving ceremony at Babel Square in Berlin, where the Nazis burned more than 20,000 books in 1933 because their authors were Jewish."
Chancellor of Germany Olaf Schulz.
Interested in the arrow system, photo: Reuters
At the time it happened, my father, the late Uri, was a little boy here in Berlin," says Proshaur, "his mother, the late grandmother Friedel, realized that Germany was no longer a place for Jews and within a few months she got up and left with her family for Palestine, the Land of Israel.
Today, 84 years later, I stand here as a proud son of the Proshaur family and a proud son of the Jewish people, and I come full circle as Israel's ambassador in Berlin.
"Abu Mazen's statements caused a real shock here. Here in Berlin he called Israel an 'apartheid state', refused to apologize for the massacre of the athletes in Munich and talks about 50 holocausts"
"Here, in Babel Square, I am excited to announce - the nation of Israel is alive!" added the ambassador, flanked by young Israelis and Germans who participated in youth exchange programs between the two countries.
"The relations with Germany are the deepest after the USA"
Proshaur began his diplomatic career in the 1980s when he served as an envoy at the Israeli embassy in Germany, which was located in Bonn in those days.
He later served, among other things, as Israel's ambassador in London, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to the United Nations.
In a conversation with Israel Hayom after the ceremony, Proshaur said that he intends to significantly increase the scope of youth delegations between the two countries.
The ambassador also noted: "The relations between Israel and Germany are the most comprehensive and the deepest after the relations between Israel and the USA, and without a doubt they are the closest in all European countries."
"The Germans faced their past on all levels. They criticized themselves and opened up all the problematic things in an open way, in the textbooks and in the government systems"
Is there not in these close ties a rehabilitation for Germany, a purification of its name, compared to Poland for example
?
"The Germans dealt with their past on all levels. They criticized themselves and opened up all the problematic things in an open way, in the textbooks and in the government systems. Germany dealt with its past in a way that inspires respect, and at the same time allows for the continued building of relations between the countries. The past will always be part of the relations , this is something that will not change, but we need to concentrate on building the future. Exchange of delegations between young people is a key tool in my eyes for strengthening ties, and I intend to develop it significantly. Also, my plan is also to strengthen the ties between Israel and the 16 federal states of Germany."
Abu Mazen and the "50 Holocausts" speech.
Received many condemnations, photo: Reuters
President Herzog and Prime Minister Lapid will arrive in Berlin in the coming weeks. One of the pending issues between the countries is the purchase of the Arrow system, which the chancellor requested when he visited Israel in the winter. Where do things stand
?
"I don't want to get into security issues, but the very fact that Germany is interested in Israel's defense systems shows that it sees Israel at the cutting edge of the technological front that should protect Europe. This is a very significant certificate of appreciation."
Will Germany compensate the families of the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered in Munich
?
"President Steinmeier is working on a solution to this issue and we hope that he will succeed. In my view, the families are right, and after 50 years they are certainly entitled to receive adequate compensation. Germany revealed the archive and opened things up. It's time to find a solution to the issue."
What do you think are the consequences of Abu Mazen's "50 holocausts" incident a week ago in Berlin
?
"Abu Mazen's statements caused a real shock here. Here in Berlin he called Israel an 'apartheid state', refused to apologize for the massacre of the athletes in Munich and talks about 50 holocausts. The reactions came from all ends of the spectrum, from the left to the right. They were harsh and included words like 'disgusting' and 'shame', which in Germany is generally not acceptable to use. I have no doubt that Abu Mazen will not be invited to another visit to Germany soon."
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