German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday spoke of the importance of Germany's special relations with Israel on the eve of her three-day visit to the Jewish state.
Aware that the upcoming trip will highlight Germany's responsibility to the past and promote future-oriented cooperation, Merkel said Germany will take its historical responsibility seriously.
"Those who keep the Nazi-era history in mind know that the stable and friendly relations of today are one of the miracles of history," Merkel said in her weekly podcast.
Merkel is due to travel to Israel Sunday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. She will become the first German chancellor to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on Tuesday.
The German leader said she will make clear to Israeli lawmakers Germany's firm commitment to defending Israel. "The threats to which the Israeli state is exposed are also threats to us," she said.
She also said Germany will continue to put pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program.
The chancellor also highlighted the launch of cabinet-level consultations with the Israeli side, which are due to be held in Germany and Israel in turn once a year.
Seven German ministers, including Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung, will travel with Merkel for bilateral talks with their Israeli counterparts.
Germany currently holds similar consultations only with France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Russia.
"For Germany, these are the first governmental consultations to be held regularly outside Europe," Merkel said, adding that this year's talks are expected to cover a range of future projects relating to the environment, science, justice and defence cooperation.
Officials said that controversial issues such as Israel's recent announcement to build new housing units in the West Bank, would also come up in the bilateral talks.
During a telephone conversation with Merkel Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the German leader to address the issue of Jewish settlement building when she meets Israeli leaders.
The German chancellor, however, would not hold talks with Palestinian officials this time. German officials explained that the visit was not a normal working visit, but for special significance in German-Israeli bilateral relations.
Source:Xinhua
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