Germany and Israel mark 60 years of ties amid war and remembrance

Germany and Israel commemorate 60 years of relations amid tension and war

Presidents Herzog and Steinmeier honour ties shaped by reconciliation, shadowed by conflict in Gaza

BERLIN/JERUSALEM — The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel was marked this week with high-level reciprocal visits and solemn commemorations, set against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza and mounting humanitarian concerns.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Berlin on May 12, while German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier traveled to Jerusalem the next day. Although plans initially called for both presidential couples to fly together, security concerns altered the itinerary — an unintended symbol of the fragile political climate.

Both presidents acknowledged the historical weight of their nations' relationship, forged out of the horrors of the Holocaust and formalised in 1965, 20 years after World War II. The commemorations were steeped in reflection, with Steinmeier calling it a “political and human miracle” that Germany was offered reconciliation by the Jewish state.

‘Reconciliation across the abyss of history’

During a formal dinner at Bellevue Palace, Steinmeier reflected on the origins of the relationship, citing the 1952 meeting between David Ben-Gurion and Konrad Adenauer in New York as a pivotal moment. He noted that the growth of German-Israeli ties depended not just on government policy but on people-to-people initiatives — from academic exchanges to student programs.

“It was these many small steps… that led to reconciliation across the abyss of history,” he said.

The symbolism of that reconciliation was on full display when the German and Israeli leaders, along with their spouses, visited the Be'eri kibbutz near the Gaza border — the hardest-hit community during the October 7 Hamas attacks, where 132 people, including entire families, were killed.

Herzog’s wife Michal Herzog wept during a short speech, with the group surrounded by the haunting remains of burned homes and under the ever-present hum of drones and aircraft overhead. German officials confirmed that 58 hostages from the October 7 attacks remain in Gaza, with 23 believed to be alive.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza complicates diplomacy

While the mood was sombre, the visit also underscored the growing tensions over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. In an emotional moment, Steinmeier addressed the suffering on both sides of the conflict:

“We hear the very real strikes in Gaza today and we know that innocent people are suffering there too, that children are dying there too.”

Steinmeier has been one of the few Western leaders to publicly urge Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid, stating clearly that assistance must be delivered immediately, not eventually.

This measured criticism contrasted with Herzog’s framing of Israel as a “wall protecting freedom and humanity” during his visit to Berlin, exposing subtle differences in how the two allies are handling the moral and political complexities of the war.

Meeting Netanyahu draws mixed reactions

Steinmeier also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 45 minutes — one of the longest recent meetings between the embattled Israeli leader and a Western head of state. While little was said publicly, Steinmeier reportedly reiterated Germany’s demand for immediate humanitarian access to Gaza and urged renewed diplomatic efforts, particularly involving Arab states.

The meeting drew criticism in Germany. Amnesty International’s Julia Duchrow condemned it as an “unnecessary helping hand” to Netanyahu and a disservice to the victims of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.

“The blockade on aid supplies must be lifted — not someday, but now,” Steinmeier insisted, echoing growing international concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Calls for new memorials, and renewed peace

During the visit to Be’eri, Steinmeier joined Herzog in planting an olive tree, symbolising peace and renewal, alongside unveiling reconstruction plans for the community’s cultural center. Local residents like Haim Yellin, a former mayor, spoke of the need to build a new kind of memorial at Be’eri, drawing a parallel to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial.

Yellin’s remarks highlighted how Israelis are linking past and present traumas — and how they see Germany not only as a partner in remembrance, but increasingly, as a potential actor in peace and hostage recovery efforts.

A friendship tested but enduring

The week’s events underscore how far German-Israeli relations have come — from their trauma-wrought beginnings to a mature, complex alliance shaped by mutual respect, occasional diplomatic friction, and a shared commitment to dialogue. But this 60th anniversary also illustrates the fragility of that friendship amid the brutal realities of war.

Steinmeier’s choice to spend extended time with Israeli civil society and to speak candidly about Gaza's suffering reflects Germany’s evolving role as both a friend to Israel and a voice for international humanitarian norms.

As commemorations end and conflict continues, the hope is that the relationship — built slowly across generations — can help guide the two nations through one of the most difficult chapters in their shared history.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for continued coverage of German-Israeli relations, Middle East diplomacy, and humanitarian updates from the region.