On the heels of a severe political setback within her own party, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will enjoy a respite in Israel next week when she receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa.
The chancellor will be presented the award next Thursday, during her visit to the Jewish state on October 3-4.
The award seeks to recognize the German chancellor's longstanding leadership, her status as a role model for women around the world and the friendship she has fostered between Germany and Israel. It also notes her strong stance against racism and anti-Semitism and her contribution to bolstering scientific ties between Israel and Germany, as reflected in the close research ties between the University of Haifa and many German research institutions.
"Throughout her life, Merkel has been an example of excellence, reason and humanity," University of Haifa President Professor Ron Robin hailed the German leader. "It is a great privilege for us to grant her an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Haifa, and I am proud and excited."
Back home, meanwhile, German politicians and media on Wednesday questioned how long Merkel could carry on as chancellor after her center-right bloc rejected her hand-picked choice of longtime ally Volker Kauder to lead its parliamentary group, after having served as the group leader for 13 years.
The upset, before an October 14 election in Bavaria in which her Christian Social Union conservative allies face heavy losses, follows the third crisis in as many months for Merkel's loveless coalition with the Social Democrats.
Social Democratic Party of Germany lawmaker Thomas Oppermann tweeted that this was an "uprising against Merkel" and Free Democrat Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said it was "the beginning of the end of the grand coalition."
During the honorary degree ceremony, to be held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on October 4, Merkel will meet with Jewish, Arab and German students studying at the University of Haifa, and will hold a discussion with them on "Education for Democracy in the 21st Century in Practice."
