In 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Jewish state, a significant upgrade was made in the relations between Israel and Germany: the Chancellor of Germany at the time, Angela Merkel, decided to hold consultations between the governments of the two countries once a year, with the aim of establishing a permanent framework for increasing practical cooperation in a wide variety of fields.
Ministers and ministers of the two governments were supposed to meet together, alternately in Jerusalem and Berlin, and formulate joint work plans.
Germany was the first country to establish such a working framework with Israel.
Other countries - Poland (until the crisis in relations between the two countries), the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy - followed in Germany's footsteps and initiated "government consultations" with Israel, thereby creating many possibilities for strengthening the bilateral ties between Israel and these countries.
Although the consultations between the governments of Germany and Israel were supposed to be held once a year, only seven rounds of consultations were held in the last 15 years.
Only between 2010 and 2012 was the annual framework maintained.
The reasons for the large time intervals between the meetings were usually the political or security situation in Israel, and more rarely election systems in Germany.
And there was also the corona epidemic.
The last consultations took place in 2018 in Jerusalem.
Four and a half years have passed since then.
There was an intention to hold consultations last summer, but the fall of the Bennet-Lapid government led to the postponement of the meeting.
Despite the establishment of a new government in Israel, a new date for holding the consultations has not yet been set.
The uniqueness of the relationship between the two countries requires that we act as soon as possible for their existence.
Why is it important to hold the consultations as soon as possible?
First, because all the previous consultations were held when Angela Merkel headed the government on the German side.
For more than a year, a left-of-center government has been in power in Germany, headed by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Schulz.
Germany needs to show that the framework of the consultations is cross coalition formations.
Schultz shows, publicly and practically, a full commitment to relations with Israel, so he should have no problem nailing down the tradition of consultations.
Second, in Israel there is a new right-wing government, many of whose ministers are new, and the consultations will make it possible to create an important personal acquaintance between the two parties.
It should be noted in this context that Shultz and Netanyahu have not yet met as prime ministers.
Thirdly, a meeting at such a high level will allow the Israeli side to directly explain what moves it plans to make without the distorted filters of the media in Israel and Germany.
Consultations were held in the past even in the years when political tensions prevailed between Berlin and Jerusalem over the issue of the "peace process" vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority.
However, it was important for both sides to show that the relationship between the two countries is stronger than the disagreements.
Such a meeting will also give the Israelis the opportunity to bring up for discussion the many problems that exist in German, governmental and other funding, directed to involvement in Israel's internal affairs and the promotion of anti-Israeli activity.
This year's round of consultations will have the greatest symbolic importance: Israel will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.
Relations between her and Germany changed radically during this period.
If at the beginning of Israel's journey the reparations from Germany saved the Jewish state from economic collapse and perhaps a possible military collapse, today Israel is the one that contributes to Germany in many fields - technological, energy, environmental, agricultural, military, intelligence.
So Germany has a great interest in strengthening cooperation with Israel.
The Israeli right has a traditional problem with relations with Germany, and for good reason.
But the right must recognize the importance of relations with Germany - the most important European power, which for the first time since the end of World War II also takes over the role of military leadership in Europe.
It is also important for the right to understand that if it wants to influence the nature of relations with Germany, this will only be possible through direct, open contact, as well as with the other side.
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