The President of the German Bundestag and the deputy chairperson of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Dr. Norbert Lammert MP, visited Israel from January 2 - 4, 2007, at the beginning of the German EU-Council-Presidency and G8-Summit chairmanship. Within the scope of his visit, Dr. Lammert met among others the Knesset spokesperson Dalia Itzik MP of the Israeli-German friendship group and its chairperson Colette Avital. In addition, he met with Benjamin Netanjahu, the leader of the opposition.

During lunch in the Knesset with Jacov Edery, the Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and the Government-Knesset Relations, and members of an earlier KAS delegation trip to Berlin, Dr. Lammert continued the dialogue about the mutual challenges for both countries and the difficult situation in the Middle East which Israel is currently facing.

Dr. Lammert highlighted the importance of art and culture for the European unification at the opening of the photo exhibition “Deutsche Vita” (German lifestyle) in the Museum of Modern Art in Tel Aviv on occasion of the German EU Council Presidency and the G8-Summit chairmanship.

In order to get an idea of the situation of Christians in the Holy Land, Dr. Lammert met with the Latin Patriarch Michael Sabbah in the old city of Jerusalem.

The meeting between Dr. Lammert and Dr. Lars Hänsel, the Resident Representative of the KAS in Israel gave Dr. Lammert the chance to gather background information about the work of the foundation in Israel. Dr. Lammert also attended the state funeral of Teddy Kollek, the former longtime mayor of Jerusalem.