"The Holocaust fills us with shame. I bow my head before the
victims and all those who helped them survive," said German
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, during a special Knesset
plenum meeting held in honor of her visit.
Merkel addressed the Knesset in German, following a special
decision by the Knesset House Committee. Several MKs decided
to boycott the meeting, saying they were unable to listen to
the chancellor of Germany address the Knesset in German.
The MKs who boycotted the speech were Aryeh Eldad (HaIchud
HaLeumi-NRP), Yitzchak Levy (HaIchud HaLeumi-NRP), Shelly
Yacimovich (Labor), Rabbi Yaakov Cohen (UTJ) and Yisrael Katz
(Likud).
Before the festive plenum meeting, a ceremonial reception was
held at the gates of the Knesset, followed by a luncheon in
her honor attended by hundreds of invitees.
Merkel also spoke during the luncheon, saying Germany would
do its best to bring back two IDF soldiers kidnapped by
Hizbullah.
Merkel opened her Knesset address in Hebrew, thanking the
Knesset for the honor of being permitted to speak. She also
concluded the address with a smattering of Hebrew. The
Chancellor said Germany and Israel would always be bound
together and only if Germany recognizes its responsibility
for the Holocaust would it be able to build a humane future.
"Humanity grows out of taking responsibility for the past,"
she said.
She also spoke about the need to combat and nip in the bud
every manifestation of racism or antisemitism "because they
can never be allowed to find a place in Germany."
Merkel also addressed the Iranian nuclear threat, saying
Germany would not hesitate to impose further sanctions on
Iran. She said the Iranian nuclear plan poses a threat not
only to Israel, but to the entire region and the world. "If
Iran obtains atomic weapons it would have disastrous
consequences," she said. "We have to prevent this." She went
on to pledge her commitment to Israel's security. "Israel's
security is unequivocal and not open to dispute. In this
critical time we cannot issue empty remarks."
The German chancellor said her country would also work in the
European Union to increase the sanctions on Iran, saying
"Germany will never abandon Israel, but will always be a true
partner."
Merkel took a strong stance against the Kassam rocket fire
directed at southern towns, saying "terror attacks are a
crime."
At the end of her address Merkel received a long, standing
ovation.
PM Ehud Olmert also addressed the special plenum meeting,
noting Germany's strong stand against the Iranian threat,
saying Germany in particular understands this threat in light
of the past.
