The Hindu : International : Koehler's visit stirs emotions in Israel

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Thursday, Feb 03, 2005

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International

Koehler's visit stirs emotions in Israel

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB. 2. The German President, Horst Koehler, is in Israel marking 40 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The visit is politically sensitive and has stirred strong emotions in Israel.

Mr. Koehler had earlier attended ceremonies in Poland to mark 60 years since the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz was liberated. Soon after arrival on Tuesday, Mr. Koehler travelled straight to Jerusalem where he visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial to the millions of Jews killed by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. He said his visit to the memorial was "filled with pain, sadness and shame."

Germany is now one of Israel's closest allies in Europe, and successive German governments have taken significant steps including payment of many billions of U.S. dollars in compensation to victims of the Holocaust.

Controversy

Mr. Koehler's visit has acquired some controversy because of his decision to address the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) in German language. The Israeli Health Minister, Danny Naveh, has been quoted as saying it is "inappropriate" for Mr. Koehler to speak in German when he addresses the Knesset. The deputy speaker of the Knesset said it would be "impossible" for him to hear the German language within the walls of the Israeli Parliament. But the office of Mr. Koehler said, "it goes without saying" that Mr. Koehler would speak in his native tongue. Mr. Koehler's predecessor, Johannes Rau also addressed the Knesset in German during his visit to Israel five years ago.

The Knesset Speaker, Reuven Rivlin, plans to call on Mr. Koehler to work to outlaw the neo-Nazi National Democratic party.

There have been reports that a group of teenage boys had set ablaze a German flag at the entrance to Jerusalem. Police found the remains of the charred flag at the scene. Later, Mr. Koehler is expected to meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.

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