New German president: I’ve been to Israel so often I lost count

German President-elect Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks with President Reuven Rivlin on the phone, and responds to an invite to Israel by saying he’s been here at least two dozen times already.

“I think I have been fortunate to visit Israel more than 25 times, I have stopped counting,” he says in the phone call, according to a statement from Rivlin’s office.

But he also says he’ll be happy to visit again at the first opportunity.

In the conversation, Rivlin calls Steinmeier a “great friend of Israel.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you, and wish you much success. I thank you for all you have done in the past as foreign minister, and we look forward to working together once you take up your new role,” he says.

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