Amid the grim news of the terrorist attack in Jerusalem and the ongoing war in Gaza since October 7, 2023, it is especially difficult to find reasons to celebrate. Nevertheless, together with the Haifa City Museum, we hosted an event on September 8, 2025, to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. More than 400 guests accepted the invitation and dedicated their evening to honoring bilateral relations.
The museum, located in the heart of Haifa’s historic German Colony, and the KAS office in Israel opened the day with three TED-style talks: on the history of the Templer community, on the German-Israeli reparations agreement with a focus on the port and shipping industry, and on personal stories connecting Berlin and Haifa. Between the talks, Vesna Buhler and the Bat-Galim Choir entertained the audience with musical performances. Guests also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition on Haifa’s German roots.
The second part of the evening reflected the somber reality: the fate of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza—including seven German citizens—the war in Gaza that has continued since October 7th, political developments in Germany and Israel, growing concerns about rising antisemitism in Europe, and ideas on how bilateral relations can be revitalized and strengthened.
German Ambassador Steffen Seibert opened the discussion with an overview of the current state of German-Israeli relations. While voicing critical remarks about the continuation of the war in Gaza and the humanitarian situation there, he emphasized the uniqueness of this relationship: born out of the crimes of the Third Reich, yet today marked by friendship and close exchange. Dr. Michael Rimmel, Director of the Adenauer Foundation in Israel, then called on the audience to look forward and actively shape the future. He also highlighted Haifa’s unique character—as a diverse, open, and innovative city that in many respects can serve as a model for tackling societal challenges in Israel.
Yotam Yakir, Director of the Haifa Museums, then invited Volker Beck, President of the German-Israeli Society, political advisor Melody Sucharewicz, and former Israeli Ambassador to Berlin, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, to the stage. All three underscored the uniqueness of the partnership that emerged after 1945. At the same time, they stressed that the challenges of today cannot be ignored. Sucharewicz warned of the rise of antisemitism in Europe, which does not spare Germany. Hadas-Handelsman expressed concern about Chancellor Merz’s decision to halt arms deliveries to Israel, cautioning that parts of German society are becoming increasingly alienated from Israel—also due to the growing proportion of Muslim immigrants. Volker Beck, in turn, spoke out clearly against certain policies of the Israeli government, such as the annexation of parts of the West Bank. He pointed to the enduring solidarity of German politics and society with Israel and advocated for an even closer partnership between the two countries, based on shared values.
The discussion made clear: the issues are far too complex to resolve in a single evening. At the same time, it demonstrated that the partnership between Israel and Germany remains steadfast. All participants emphasized their determination and commitment to working daily for this partnership and to striving for a shared future.
The evening concluded on a festive note with a performance by Israeli singer Alon Ader, who delighted the audience with some of his best-known songs.
