The Holocaust is the most terrible crime in human history. We, Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, bow our heads in memory of the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust.
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For the first time in our interparliamentary history, we were mutually invited to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th in Germany and Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day in Israel beginning the evening of April 27.
The commemoration of the Holocaust is vital to learning the lessons of the past to ensure its future, in particular, because every year, fewer Holocaust survivors remain to tell their stories.
Our joint commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust demonstrates just how strong the friendship between our countries is. This is an important friendship that does not repress historical wounds and that recognizes the historical guilt of the German people for the irreversible loss of the Jewish people, their heritage, and their communities.
Cognizant of the past, we are committed to fighting antisemitism in all its forms, including Holocaust denial and distortion. We firmly condemn all forms of criticism of Israel that lead to the demonization of the Jewish people and deny Israel the right to exist. Together, we want to work toward a brighter future. Our parliaments, which represent the public, have a special role in this context.
Many members of parliament in Israel and Germany hold mutual visits and meet their counterparts. Last March, the Bundestag Defense Committee visited Israel and even meet with the head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Ram Ben Barak. The Israel-Germany Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group has existed since 1971.
In 2015, our parliamentary ties took another step forward with the establishment of the Israeli-German Inter-Parliamentary Forum, which promotes collaboration in the resolution of topical problems. We intend to make greater use of this forum again and to convene it in the near future.
Furthermore, millions of Israelis and Germans visit each other's countries. We have 66 programs for academic collaboration between institutions of higher learning and joint funds and grants for the promotion of Israeli-German research in the fields of science and technology. Likewise, there are over 100 twin cities and dozens more student-exchange programs.
Israel-Germany ties are dear to our hearts. We are aware of the sensitivity, but we recognize the importance of our joint commemoration today. We have achieved a great deal, and we have built a unique partnership that is also based on liberal values that few thought would be possible after the Holocaust.
The common path that our societies have paved can be of benefit to the world, and in particular in light of the crises it faces. Together, Israel and Germany, the Knesset and the Bundestag, we stand firm for a world order based on democratic rules and values and the return of humanity and peace around the world.
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