WELCOME SPEECH BY MICHAEL MERTES

On June 1, my term as representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel has begun. Nadine Mensel joined me a month later, being the assistant to the representative for the next two years. Our start was eased by a remarkably friendly, committed and competent team of the KAS Jerusalem. I am also thankful to Felix Dane and his team of the KAS office in Ramallah, they are close and trustful partners.

This newsletter is a great opportunity to thank my predecessor Dr. Lars Hänsel , now in charge of the KAS office in Washington, D.C. He handed over a well operating working environment. In the future, I would like to set new trends. But the fundament built in almost 30 years of KAS representation in Israel will remain unchanged. It was also created by – to mention only two more names – my pre-predecessor Dr. h.c. Johannes Gerster and his predecessor Dr. Gerhard Wahlers with spirit, energy and outcomes still noticeable today.

During my first months, I got an impression of the great variety of topics KAS Israel is dealing with. On June 21, Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, president of the European Parliament (Ret.) and chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, gave a highly acknowledged speech speech at the Konrad Adenauer Conference Center in Jerusalem. At the center, he dealt with „The Arabic Spring and the Middle East – The European Perspective“, explaining that the KAS will be especially active in Northern Africa and the Middle East. In that regard, the KAS can rely on many experiences as a host, facilitator and participant of interreligious conversations among the three monotheistic world religions. Naturally, such an interreligious exchange of ideas belongs to Jerusalem in particular.

It would be delighted if you like this edition of our newsletter. Your suggestions – criticism, improvements and of course also praise – are welcome at any time.

Best regards and “Shalom”

Michael Mertes

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR READING

New series – “Five questions – five answers”

Our list of publications now contains a new series called “Five questions – five answers”. At irregular intervals, readers will be informed on thesis and ideas, currently being discussed with our cooperating think tanks. The answers to our questions differ, sometimes they are even conflicting. Nevertheless, they reflect a pluralism so typical for the vividness of political debates in Israel. The beginning was made by Dr. Sharon Pardo , holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies at the Ben-Gurion University. He expressed his opinion regarding the question on how Israelis perceive Europe. On the topic „Israel, the Palestinians and the United Nations“ our questions were answered by Hanna Siniora and Dr. Gershon Baskin, Co-CEOs of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) and by ambassador (Ret.) Alan Baker, Director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Country Report

During the course of the Summer, a wave of demonstrations swept through the country with historic turnouts - occasionally with 300,000 or 400,000 people on the street in various Israeli cities. Unlike what could be expected, the protests did not focus on the Israeli-Arab conflict. The protesters expressed the middle class’s displeasure with the country’s burden sharing instead. Many young Israelis erected tents in cities throughout Israel to demonstrate against insufficient tenant protection, high rents and high living costs in general. In particular, the Rothschild-Boulevard in Tel Aviv gained popularity. Even if most of the tents are uninhabited or dismantled by now and even if the latest terror attacks in Israel’s south cast a shadow over the demonstrations, the protest will show an effect. A country report by Nadine Mensel provides background information.

EVENTS

Yeckes and Templers

Tel Aviv would not be known as the “White City” today unless elements of German history and culture were anchored here. Nowadays, Israelis talk openly and with a growing interest about the German contribution to Israel’s history and culture. On June 22, a joint event by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the German Embassy Tel Aviv dealt with the subject “Yeckes and Templers”.

Handing over of KAS office to Michael Mertes

On July 21, almost 200 guests took part in the ceremonial handover of the KAS office Israel from Dr. Lars Hänsel to Michael Mertes. During the event at the Konrad Adenauer Conference Centre Mishkenot Sha’ananim, KAS chairman Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering took the opportunity to sum up his visit to the region. Moreover, he appealed to the EU to offer a common position regarding the peace negotiations in the Middle East.

“Junge Gruppe” in Israel

Eleven members of the German Bundestag and also members of the CDU/CSU faction’s “Junge Gruppe” came to Israel on a political exchange program from July 18 to July 22. Adding to the group’s traditional emphasis on European and transatlantic relations, they wished to give substance to the relationship between Germany and Israel.

Israeli-Palestinian relations

On July 14, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Jerusalem and the “Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI)” held a meeting of the economy task force. Israeli and Palestinian representatives of politics, economy and the media as well as representatives of nongovernmental organizations were invited. Participants discussed how the employment of Palestinians influences the Israeli and the Palestinian economy. The PA’s bid for UN membership in September became subject of the second meeting meeting on July 27, focusing on the legal and political implications of that plan.

The Future of Commemoration

On July 31, about 160 people, among them many Yeckes, survivors of the Shoah and youngsters, participated in an event of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF). The inter-generational panel discussion centered on “The future of commemoration – common remembrance in Germany and Israel”. After the discussion, the topic led to a vivid exchange of experiences and opinions among the participants.

OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US

Solidarity with Gilad Shalit and his family

For more than five years, the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit – at the time of obduction 19 years old - is been imprisoned by Hamas. Again the militant Palestinian organization disrespects elementary rules of humanity. They do not allow any communication with Gilad Shalit, even the Red Cross is kept from contacting the hostage. In September 2009, the last sign of life was conveyed to Israeli authorities.

Michael Mertes on this topic: “We will do our best to make the German and European public aware of the fate of Gilad Shalit. First and foremost this demands human solidarity with Gilad Shalit and his family. Simultaneously, it is a sign of our close unity with Israel.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mechanisms of Transitional Justice

Transitional Justice is a relatively new interdisciplinary field concerned with methods and mechanisms that can provide societies that have undergone collective and mass individual trauma such as extended armed conflict, civil war, military rule or genocide with ways to transition to sustainable conditions of reconciliation and coexistence.

The conference organized by KAS Israel and “The Minerva Center for Human Rights” will focus on “The Role of Transitional Justice Mechanisms in Active Conflicts”. (Conference: November 13.-15., 2011, Jerusalem)

The Challenges of New Military Technologies

The sixth annual international humanitarian law conference, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Minerva and the ICRC, will address the enormously significant and current issue of new military technologies and the challenges they present for existing, sometimes-outdated mechanisms designed to protect civilians. (Conference: November 27.-29., 2011, in Jerusalem)

Rosh HaShana and ’Id AlFitr

Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year’s celebration, starts on September 28, 2011.

קרן קונרד אדנאואר מאחלת לכל ידידיה ושותפיה שנה טובה, שנת שלום ובריאות

’Id AlFitr, the festive days at the end of the month of fasting (Ramadan) started on August 30, 2011.

عيد سعيد

Dear friends and partners of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, we wish you a peaceful, healthy and happy New Year!