In his opening remarks, Dr. Mark Speich, KAS Secretary General, recalled that the beginnings of dialogue 60 years ago did not arise from public or cultural readiness, but from a few courageous individuals who opened a door few believed would ever open: "Politically, agreements laid the groundwork, but it was human exchange, cultural interaction, and cooperation that ultimately changed hearts and minds." Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, emphasized the need to examine the relationship from multiple angles: "You’re obligated to do that—to raise questions, to seek answers, to seek understanding."
During a panel discussion, Hildegard Bentele, Member of the European Parliament, David Ederberg from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, and Dr. Remko Leemhuis, Berlin Director of AJC, joined moderator Juliane Schäuble to discuss historic achievements and current challenges in German-Israeli relations—particularly the situation following the Gaza peace deal and the rise of antisemitism in Europe.
AJC and KAS have cooperated for more than 45 years. The AJC-Adenauer Leadership Exchange Program, established in 1980, aims to foster reconciliation and understanding between Germans and American Jews.
