Germany to host anti-Semitism conference next year

President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert spoke to the Knesset today in a special session held to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany. Lammert addressed the Israeli parliament in German, and his speech was heard by President Reuven Rivlin and guests from Israel and Germany.

“Thank you for the invitation and the warm welcome, it is an honor for me to speak to you here at the Knesset in my mother tongue,” Lammert said in Hebrew, before switching to German.

Lammert discussed the special relations between the two countries and the historical memory they share: “I am aware that this is not at all obvious: giving a military salute for the president of a foreign parliament, and of all possible ones, a German guest, in the Knesset, and to the sounds of the German national anthem.”

Lammert said his first official visit in 2007 was one of the most impressive experiences of his political life.

“The intensive relations of friendship between our two countries are a historical miracle. This miracle started thanks to the decisive vision of two veteran and experienced leaders, Konrad Adenauer and David Ben Gurion,” said Lammert.

Addressing recent anti-Semitic displays in Europe, Lammert said: “We are especially grateful for the fact that after the Nazi dictatorship and the Holocaust the Jews can again build their lives in Germany. This is the finest declaration of trust granted to the second German democracy. The fact that there are still anti-Semitic outbursts all over Europe is therefore all the more shameful and we must fight these outbursts decisively. Because of this we intend to organize next year in Berlin the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combatting Anti-Semitism (ICCA), because we know the implications of anti-Semitism in Germany were worse than anywhere else.