Analysis: Merkel in Israel

BERLIN, March 21 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her three-day visit to Israel sounded in a new era in German-Israeli relations -- one that may not exactly be of help to the Middle East peace process, observers say.

It was the highlight of her visit to Israel and a historic occasion: Merkel on Wednesday became the first German chancellor to address Israel's Parliament, the Knesset. She spoke in German, a fact that had some Israeli lawmakers not attend the event, but began and ended her speech in Hebrew.

"Especially in this place, I emphasize: Every German government and every chancellor before me was committed to the special responsibility Germany has for Israel's security," she said. "This historic responsibility is part of my country's fundamental policy. It means that for me, as a German chancellor, Israel's security is non-negotiable."

The Israeli media praised Merkel's 20-minute speech because it reaffirmed Germany's unconditional willingness to side with Israel against the possible threat of an Iranian nuclear attack (though she has ruled out a preventive military strike).

"It is not up to the world to prove that Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb, but rather up to Iran to prove that it is not," Merkel said. "If Iran does not accept this, Germany will push for further sanctions."

"If Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, it would have disastrous consequences," she added. "We have to prevent this."

Yet Merkel's visit to Israel was more than just her historic speech in the Knesset.

The German chancellor and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met and talked extensively over the course of the three days, and Olmert with his actions made it very clear that the visit, which sounds in the year of Israel's 60th anniversary, is not a regular one.

Olmert personally greeted Merkel at the Ben Gurion Airport at her arrival (an honor only Israel's most steadfast political ally, U.S. President George W. Bush, has received), and he accompanied Merkel to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, where foreign leaders usually pay tribute to the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany.

The visit also, for the first time in the two countries' diplomatic relations, launched bilateral government consultations that are aimed at deepening German-Israeli ties on the military, political, social and cultural levels. Several German Cabinet members came along to meet with their Israeli counterparts, including Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung and Economy Minister Michael Glos.

The closer ties have managed to irritate Arab countries in the region; the Syrian newspaper Al-Baath, considered to be the mouthpiece of President Bashar Assad, complained that Merkel did not point to the "Israeli crimes in the Gaza strip," in her speech, arguing that this was a "provocation" to Palestinians and Arabs in general.

Yet even moderate voices have warned that Germany risks losing its standing as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the expense of ever-closer relations with Israel.

German politicians and even some Israeli peace activists have said Merkel should not shy away from directing criticism toward Israel when it undermines the peace process; Merkel was silent two weeks ago when Israel announced it would expand its settlements in the occupied territories -- a move that would run counter to the agreements struck at the peace conference in Annapolis, Md.

Senior conservatives in Germany argue that the intensified relations with Israel will eventually benefit the peace process, as Israel tends to listen only to close allies; Merkel has stressed that she and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas get along extremely well, and that she has telephoned him before making her way to Israel. Merkel did not, however, visit the Palestinian territories -- a government spokesman cited the "special circumstances" of Israel's 60th anniversary as a reason, yet it is obvious that Merkel during her three days in Israel wanted to eliminate any potential for friction.

The chancellor has in the past revealed her special feelings for Israel: She is a close friend of Shimon Stein, the Israeli ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2007, with whom she and her husband have spent entire evenings on red wine and discussions. She also became the first German government leader to send German troops into the Middle East (Germany contributes ships and troops to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon) to help protect Israel. Merkel's personal quest for closer ties with Israel seem to be a logical continuation of her overall foreign policy course, which has brought Berlin closer to Washington.

Yet the renewed ties are delicate especially as Germany this summer will host a conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Merkel, of course, would argue that its trust in Germany will cause Israel to listen more carefully -- and thus Germany may be able to influence Jerusalem. Yet for several Arab governments in the region, that might be nothing more than cold comfort.