Germany remembers its darkest days

On first visit to Israel, German president learns about regional affairs from President Peres.

German Bundesrat president Stephan Weil meets President Shimon Peres at his residence in Jerusalem yesterday.  (photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
German Bundesrat president Stephan Weil meets President Shimon Peres at his residence in Jerusalem yesterday.
(photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
On his first visit to Israel, German Bundesrat President Stephan Weil told President Shimon Peres on Sunday morning that like many of his predecessors who had come to Israel, he too was aware of his country’s past.
“History is still alive, and we are working hard to ensure that the darkest period of Germany’s history – the Shoa – will not be forgotten,” he said.
Peres commended Germany for its stability and its responsibility in fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.
The president was appreciative of Germany’s moral stand with Israel, and said that he hoped that strategic cooperation between the two countries would be enhanced.
Turning to Middle East politics, Weil said that he was always interested in the political situation of the area “because we know that security in your region is good not only for your country but for peace in the world.”
He was curious as to how Peres perceived the immediate future of the region in view of the stalemate in the peace process.
The president replied that he saw no immediate threat of war, but that he did anticipate violence in the form of terrorism.
Whereas there is usually an explicit purpose to war, he told his visitor, terrorism strikes indiscriminately and has no rules.