Israel's new ambassador in Berlin, Ron Prosor, on Monday presented his credentials to the President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and officially undertook his duties.
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Immediately after the ceremony at the presidential palace, Prosor delivered a moving speech at Bebelplatz, where the Nazis burned more than 20,000 books in 1933, only because they were written by Jewish authors.
"When this happened, my late father Uri was a little boy here in Berlin," Prosor said. "His mother, my late grandmother Friedel, realized that Germany was no longer a home for Jews and within a few months picked up her family and left for Palestine, the Land of Israel. Today, 84 years later, I stand here as a proud son of the Prosor family and a proud son of the Jewish people, and I come full circle as Israel's ambassador."
The newly appointed envoy then concluded, standing next to young Israelis and Germans who have participated in exchange programs: "Here, in Bebelplatz, I am thrilled to declare – Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel live)."
"Relations with Germany are the closest after the US"
Prosor began his diplomatic career in the 1980s, when he served as an envoy at the Israeli embassy in Germany, which was located in Bonn at that time. He later served, among others, as Israel's ambassador in London, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to the United Nations.
When talking with Israel Hayom after the ceremony, Prosor stated that he intends to significantly increase the number of youth delegations between the two countries. He also noted that: "Relations between Israel and Germany are the closest and strongest after the relations between Israel and the US and, without doubt, they are the closest compared to all European countries."
Q: Do these ties enable some kind of rehabilitation for Germany, clearing its name, in comparison to Poland, for example?
"The Germans have dealt with all aspects of their past. They have given themselves appropriate self-criticism and been transparent with all problematic issues, in their textbooks and government systems. Germany has dealt with its past in a respectable way, while, at the same time, allowing for the ongoing building of relations between the two countries. The past will always be a part of our relationship, it is something that will not change, but we have to concentrate on building the future. I believe that exchanges of young people are a key tool for strengthening ties and I intend to significantly develop this. Also, I plan to strengthen ties between Israel and the 16 federal states of Germany."
Q: President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Yair Lapid will visit Berlin in the coming weeks. One of the issues pending between the two countries is the purchase of the Arrow air defense system. Where do things stand?
"I don't want to get into security issues, but the fact that Germany is interested in Israel's defense systems shows that it regards Israel at the cutting edge of the technological front that should protect Europe. This is a very substantial gesture of appreciation."
Q: Will Germany compensate the families of the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered in Munich?
President Steinmeier is working on a solution to this issue and we hope he will succeed. I believe that the families are right and after 50 years they are definitely entitled to receive adequate compensation. Germany opened the archive and exposed details. It's time to find a solution to this issue."
Q: What do you believe are the implications of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' "50 Holocausts" speech a week ago in Berlin?
"His statements caused real shock here. Here, in Berlin, he termed Israel an "apartheid state," refused to apologize for the massacre of the athletes in Munich and spoke about 50 Holocausts. The reaction came from all over, both from the Right and from the Left, and included harsh words like 'disgusting' and 'disgrace', which are generally not used in Germany. I have no doubt that Abbas will not be invited for another visit to Germany in the near future."
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