German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who arrived in Israel late Saturday for a final visit before she leaves office, met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday.
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Bennett told Merkel that Israel's ties with Germany, under Merkel as chancellor, had become "stronger than ever."
"Thank you, Angela," Bennett said.
The prime minister said that Israel valued its friendship with Merkel and her commitment to Israel.
"Sometimes a leader makes a major difference, and I think that your leadership paved the way to Germany's ongoing commitment to Israel's security. We remember the history, and are looking forward with optimism to a better future," Bennett said.
Video: Reuters
Bennett said that the issue of Iran's nuclear program had reached a stage that "demands leadership," and said that if the free world accepted Iran reaching the nuclear threshold, it would be a "moral stain" as well as a threat to world peace.
"Imagine the damage Iran would cause if the world knew that it had a nuclear weapon behind its bullying," Bennett said.
Bennett said there was no point in trying to pacify Iran, as Tehran continued to "toy with" the international community and play for time while challenging regional stability.
"This is a critical point in time, and Germany's position is crucial. In Israel, we are taking action and operating against Iran in every dimension – including daily actions to stop it flooding our region with weapons," the prime minister said.
Merkel said that every day that passed without Tehran responding to US overtures would result in Iran enriching more uranium.
Speaking during a visit to Israel, the outgoing chancellor said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping also had a responsibility to help to push Iran back to the negotiating table.
"I also see a responsibility for Russia and China here, since if the JCPOA (nuclear deal) is no longer doing what it's meant to do then that's very difficult, so we are now in very decisive weeks for this deal," Merkel said.
Germany's ambassador to Israel, Susanne Wasum-Rainer, tweeted that the visit aims to "strengthen our unique" relationship.
In power since 2005, Merkel boosted cooperation with Israel that Germany became Israel's largest trade partner in Europe. In a 2008 trip marking Israel's 60th anniversary, Merkel addressed the Israeli parliament, in German, and expressed shame over the Holocaust. The 20-minute speech earned Merkel a standing ovation.
But Germany, like much of Europe, was at odds with Israel when it comes to the Palestinian issue. Germany has called for a Palestinian state alongside Israel and opposes Israel's settlement activities in the West Bank.
Merkel also visited Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and met with President Isaac Herzog, who praised her as "one of the most important leaders of the modern era."
Herzog surprised Merkel by announcing a special scholarship named after her, which would go to aspiring female researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Merkel was then scheduled to meet with business and high-tech representatives.
Merkel will also be presented with an honorary doctorate from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology at a ceremony in Jerusalem. Merkel, who has a doctorate in natural sciences, published a number of papers on quantum chemistry before entering German politics.
The two-day visit was supposed to take place in August, but was postponed after the developments in Afghanistan where the United States Europe scrambled to evacuate personnel and allies from the country as it Taliban took over.
Merkel last visited Israel in 2018.
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