Merkel hailed in final visit to Israel as German chancellor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived Oct. 9 in Israel for a two-day visit. It was Merkel’s seventh trip to Israel during her 16 years in office, taking place shortly before she is set to step down. Still, both sides agreed to define her trip as a working visit, not a farewell one. In other words, besides honoring the outgoing chancellor, all of Israel’s pressing strategic issues were put on the table and discussed with her.

On the honoring side, President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and all of his Cabinet ministers went out of their way to show appreciation for Merkel, considered in Jerusalem one of Israel’s greatest friends on the international arena. In fact, Bennett cleared most of his day Oct. 10 to accompany Merkel on her visit.

Arriving on the evening of Oct. 9, Merkel's team had asked that she be greeted at the tarmac modestly, with only Director of State Protocol Gil Haskel welcoming her. The celebration of Merkel’s arrival and friendship begun the day after, with a first official meeting between Bennett and Merkel at the King David Hotel Jerusalem. "Welcome to Israel, dear friend of Israel!" Bennett tweeted after the meeting.

The government then hosted Merkel at its weekly meeting, an honor rarely bestowed on visiting heads of state. Bennett said that the very diversified Israeli Cabinet is united in its appreciation for the role Merkel had played over the years in shaping and deepening ties between Israel and Germany. "The bilateral relations during your tenure as chancellor became stronger than ever and transformed into a true friendship, thanks to your leadership," Bennett told Merkel. He then said that his government greatly appreciates Merkel’s standing commitment to Israel’s security. Bennett quoted Merkel saying in the past that the security of Israel was a national interest of Germany, and that Germany was not neutral on that; a statement he deems highly moral.