Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with the Prime Minister of the German State Bavaria, Markus Soder, who visited Israel.
The two discussed the latest developments in the situation and the continuation of the fighting against Hamas. In addition, they discussed the possibilities of expanding political and economic relations between Israel and Bavaria.
“We share the same values with Israel and they are the bridge between Europe and Germany and Israel, that’s why we are here and have come to support our friends,” said Soder. “We know that you need time to fight Hamas, we see that you are not working against the residents in Gaza and are even working to bring humanitarian equipment to the residents.”
FM Cohen also congratulated the Bavarian State Premier on his re-election and and on his decision to make Israel his first visit as premier. On the occasion COhen reiterated that Israel’s aim in fighting this war is for a free world. “Terrorism is a common enemy of all democracies in the world, and only a united stand against Hamas terrorists who are worse than ISIS will prevent a repeat of the October 7 atrocities in Western countries,” the release quoted him saying.
Bavaria, the largest regional state by land area in Germany, is an engine for the German economy and is one of the wealthiest regional states in Germany. If Bavaria were an independent state, it would have the seventh largest economy in the European Union.
Bavaria is a close associate of Israel and maintains close and fruitful cooperation both in the political-governmental and in the private-civilian sectors. Bavaria is a pioneer of German–Israel relations and in the fight against antisemitism; it was the first German state to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism in the cabinet, and the first to open (2018) a representative office in Israel.
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