President Herzog and President Steinmeier then held a diplomatic meeting, in which they discussed the importance that both Israel and Germany attach to their bilateral relationship and opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation.

President Herzog thanked President Steinmeier for his true friendship and personal commitment to the Israel-Germany relationship and to its development. After the meeting, the presidents held an expanded bilateral meeting with the participation of both delegations. President Herzog and President Steinmeier then delivered statements to the press.

President Isaac Herzog’s full statement:  

“Your Excellency, my friend, the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, I am proud to stand here by your side on my first state visit as the President of the State of Israel on German soil. This is a moment that weaves together past and future, pain and pride, memory and hope. Like many other members of the Jewish People, for me too, visiting Germany is a journey in search of roots, both personal and national. From my own family’s roots in Germany to the first time my father, the Sixth President of the State of Israel, Chaim Herzog, stepped on German soil as a proud Jewish officer, among the liberators of the death camps—at one of which, Bergen-Belsen, I shall conclude my state visit to Germany together with you, Mr. President, in two days’ time.

“Mere months after Bergen-Belsen’s liberation, in October 1945 the displaced persons’ camp at Bergen-Belsen was visited by the man who would soon become the State of Israel’s first prime minister: David Ben-Gurion. At the end of his visit, he signed a note with the words: Am Yisrael Chai. The People of Israel live. I stand here today carrying that same message, that same determination: the People of Israel live! The ultimate destiny of the Jewish People will never be betrayed! (1 Samuel 15:29)

“Mr. President, in recent months, you and I have worked together a fair bit, as you noted, on the subject of the tragedy of the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. I thank you for your tireless moral commitment to historic justice, a commitment reflected in your personal involvement, which ultimately led to a breakthrough, based on the taking of responsibility by the German Government for the security and rescue failures, an exhaustive historical inquiry, and compensation for the bereaved families.

“I appreciate and respect your efforts to bring this painful episode to a place of healing, and I hope that from now on, we shall continue to remember, invoke, and most importantly reaffirm the lessons of this tragedy, including the importance of fighting terror, for future generations.

“Mr. President, I stand here today with my sights set on one short phrase: ‘On behalf of the past, for the sake of the future.’ The foundations of the Israel-Germany relationship are complicated, challenging, and at times painful, but they have created a deep connection and a powerful and important alliance. We have been fated to be forever linked by the past and no less so, by the future and by hope. Today we know that the relationship between Israel and Germany is correct, critical, and indispensable. For Israel and for Germany.

“My friend, Frank, we have been personal friends for many years, in which I have been privileged to know you as a brave and conscientious leader, and as a true friend of mine, of my people, and of my homeland. I am pleased to to thank you for the invitation to come here today and for the prosperous alliance between our countries, as part of which Prime Minister Yair Lapid will come here next week as a guest of Chancellor Scholz for important strategic talks.

“Only recently, you received the credentials of the new Israeli ambassador, Ron Prosor, and I received the credentials of the new German ambassador, Steffen Seibert, and I am sure that both ambassadors will make great contributions toward strengthening the relationship between our states.

“Mr. President, Germany is a power and a greatly responsible leader of both the European community and the world community. Germany’s contributions to the family of nations in recent decades, in so many diverse fields, are a testament to its leadership status and responsible worldview. We greatly appreciate your support for Israel in the international community and our nations’ cooperation.

“From the day it was founded, the State of Israel has been an exemplar of vision and action, prosperity and progress; our hands have always been outstretched in peace to our neighbors, near and far, from a place of belief and hope. In recent years we have witnessed some welcome and dramatic transformations in our region. The Abraham Accords have brought with them unprecedented breakthroughs of friendship, dialogue, and peace. They have proven that there is room for neighborly relations and rapprochement; they have proven that Jews, Muslims, Christians, and members of all religions and faiths in our region can and must be friends and partners, as must their states; they have proven that good can triumph over evil; and no less importantly, they have proven that partnership yields tremendous value for the citizens of all countries. I fervently hope that the ripples of these positive changes will grow larger and stronger and will reach other countries, and also of course our Palestinian neighbors.

“Unfortunately, alongside the positive winds blowing in our region, there are also voices of terror and hate. Terror does not rest for a second, and today it reared its head again, alas, when a few hours ago, depraved terrorists perpetrated an attack against Israelis traveling by bus. We will not accept any attack on our citizens or soldiers. The State of Israel will defend its citizens, and the IDF and our security forces will act at any place and at any time.

“Mr. President, the forces of hate are coming first and foremost from Iran. Iran is openly striving for Israel’s destruction, and the international community must treat it severely, firmly and assertively. Toothless and watered-down accords and sweeping benefits will not stop Iran.

“Iran has proven that it cannot be trusted. Iran has proven that it is a threat to the world order. Iran has proven that it has no qualms about sowing terror, death, and thuggish behavior threatening global stability.

“The State of Israel cannot accept threats to its existence. Israel will stand up and assertively and powerfully defend its citizens and Jewish communities all around the world. We expect our allies to stand firmly by our side at this hour.

“Mr. President, the whole world is grappling today with climate change, which threatens the lives and wellbeing of billions of people. Taking a cue from the German-Jewish philosopher Hans Jonas, whom you know well, Mr. President, I want us all to sign onto an ‘imperative of responsibility’: let us safeguard God’s creation, entrusted in our hands. As he phrases it: ‘Act so that the effects of your action are compatible with the permanence of genuine human life.’

“Israel is a leading state in the development of ground-breaking technologies that benefit us in confronting the climate crisis, and I believe that Israel and Germany can and must be parties to the struggle for humanity’s existence, in the space we all share, in so many diverse issues. It’s simply natural.

“I believe that we have a duty to continue proving, in Berlin and in Jerusalem, our shared ability to stand firm facing the challenges of the present and the winds of the future. And I am convinced that we will succeed in this, together, and as Israel and Germany have proven that they know well, in a spirit of full partnership. Thank you very much, my friend, Mr. President for opening up your home to me and Michal, together with your wife. We are looking forward to a moving and productive visit.”