The Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel are celebrating a special anniversary this year: sixty years ago, on 12 May 1965, Israel and the Federal Republic established diplomatic relations. After the atrocities of the Shoah and the immeasurable suffering that the National Socialist regime inflicted upon the Jewish people, the idea of such a rapprochement seemed wholly unthinkable during the early years of both states. The deep friendship that now unites the two countries is therefore a profound gift.

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The initial groundwork was laid on 10 September 1952 with the signing of the Luxembourg Agreement, in which the Federal Republic assumed responsibility for the crime against humanity that was the Shoah and committed to paying reparations.

On 14 March 1960, Konrad Adenauer and David Ben-Gurion held the first-ever meeting between a German Chancellor and an Israeli Prime Minister. The historic meeting of the two politicians in New York remains to this day a powerful symbol of reconciliation between the two countries.

Finally, on 12 May 1965, Federal Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol formally agreed to establish diplomatic relations.

The achievement of a committed civil society

As important as the political foresight of figures such as Konrad Adenauer and David Ben-Gurion or Shimon Peres and Johannes Rau was, the deep friendship between the two countries is, first and foremost, the work of many dedicated individuals in Germany and Israel. As early as the 1950s and 1960s, vibrant contacts were established at all levels of civil society – through youth exchanges, cultural and scientific exchanges, sporting events and town twinning arrangements – and the bonds have been steadily strengthened ever since. Increasingly, partner organisations such as the German-Israeli Future Forum (DIZF) and the Minerva Stiftung were founded, agreements were concluded and cooperation was established across many fields.

After sixty years of friendship, the German and Israeli societies are now deeply interconnected. In this context, Germany’s responsibility for the security of Israel, its citizens and the Jewish people is and will remain a cornerstone of German foreign policy. Germany is engaged globally to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life, to ensure that a crime against humanity like the Shoah never happens again.

This 60^th anniversary does not come at an easy time. Germany has stood firmly by Israel’s side since the horrific terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Germany remains intensely committed to ensuring that the hostages still held captive by Hamas can finally be reunited with their families, that the ceasefire in Gaza is implemented in full and that a renewed political process towards a two-state solution is initiated so that Israelis and Palestinians may live side by side in peace and security.

Celebrations in Germany and Israel

To honour sixty years of friendship, the Federal Government – together with numerous federal states, cities, municipalities and civil-society initiatives – will celebrate this special anniversary throughout the year with a wide range of activities in both Germany and Israel. A particular emphasis will be placed on young civil society, as 2025 also marks the 70^th anniversary of the German-Israeli youth exchange programme.

Some of the projects marking the anniversary

In order to place civil society more firmly at the forefront during this anniversary year, the Federal Foreign Office is, among other things, working closely with its partners, the German-Israeli Future Forum (DIZF) and the German-Israeli Association (DIG), and is providing dedicated funding for anniversary projects. The DIZF will issue a strong public signal of the continuity and further development of German-Israeli relations, as well as of young people’s commitment. Throughout the year, young adults from both countries who engage in civil society or volunteer in projects and associations will come together to work collaboratively and exchange ideas.

The objective of the DIG project is to provide young people with a deeper understanding of the history of German-Israeli relations and to develop a fresh outlook for the future from the insights they gain. In addition to producing an educational module for schools, participants will design an anniversary graffiti piece, which will be honoured in a competition and presented in Berlin.

The Federal Foreign Office is also placing special emphasis this year on inviting members of Israeli civil society to Germany, with a view to enabling more encounters and exchanges. Multiple trips are planned as part of the Visitors Programme, involving a total of over 70 participants. These range from visits by Israeli writers to Berlin and the Frankfurt Book Fair, to Israeli mayors who have been invited to a special programme in Germany on the occasion of the anniversary.

In January, the German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, began hiking the Israel National Trail with the aim of meeting journalists, activists and dedicated members of civil society throughout Israel over the course of the year.

The Ben-Gurion House in Tel Aviv, in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, is planning a special exhibition on Konrad Adenauer and David Ben-Gurion.

One highlight is the collaboration between the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, with concerts in Tel Aviv and Berlin to celebrate German-Israeli relations. Proceeds from these performances will support Israeli students who plan to undertake an academic exchange in Germany.

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Joint logo

At the beginning of the year, Germany and Israel unveiled the joint anniversary logo, which was selected through a public competition in both countries. The logo was created by the Israeli artist Ori Mor, who had previously won a design competition with his submission. It can be used by state institutions of both countries and recipients of public funding during the anniversary year.