German-Israeli Dialog

Israel’s Declaration of Independence of 1948 specifically refers to Israel as “The Jewish State”, while simultaneously guaranteeing “the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex”. This assumed legal standing through the delegation of personal status to religious authorities (for the majority of the country’s citizens, to the monopolistic control of the orthodox Chief Rabbinate). Since, from the outset, matters of marriage and divorce in the Jewish tradition discriminate against women, aspects of gender inequality have been embedded into the structure of the state.

Conservation, Retrofitting and Sustainable Urban Development: A selected group of architects, city planners and conservationists were invited by the Heinrich Böll Foundation to take part in an exchange program between Tel Aviv and Berlin.

The Israeli branch of HBS, with its headquarters in Berlin and its self-definition as “an intellectually open, civic organization”, is currently running a series of events under the title “Jerusalem Talks”. The aim of these events is to foster discussion about different perspectives on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and their relationship with Europe, especially Germany. This particular event – the second in the series – took the role of the media during war time as its primary focus. This article was first published on the blog of the Palestine-Israel Journal website  

This year’s award winner is Yfaat Weiss, historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Yfaat Weiss, so claimed the jury, points out the unusual course of Israeli history as well as the potential of civil society in her country: “Through her research, Yfaat Weiss opens our eyes to new thinking about the coexistence of ethnic groups and minorities in Israel.” The prize will be presented on December 7th 2012 in the City Hall of Bremen.

On May 11th, 2012 the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Mossawa Center organized a seminar, public discussion based on the release of the book, "Haifa Before and After1948: Narratives of a Mixed City,” published by the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation. Here is the report on the event.

Over 400 people came to find out more about German-Israeli relations. The Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted a conference dealing with the idea of the nation state, the approach towards military violence and multiculturalism in both countries. German and Israeli experts were exploring what unites and what divides the two countries and how the relations will develop in the future.

The Conference on Transnational Migration and Multiculturalism (The Case of Israel, Germany and Europe) Transnational Migration and Multiculturalism, which took place on the 28th and 29th of November 2011, was conducted in cooperation with the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem and the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Israel and dealt with the interrelations between nation state, immigration and the perception of multiculturalism in both countries.

A strong wind of change is blowing throughout the entire state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. What do the people expect of their new government? How much change should there be? And in what areas?

The dictator may have been overthrown, but we are still far from putting paid to the military regime. At the moment it appears quite likely that the Egyptian generals will keep their promise and pave the way to free and fair elections. The Arab world is enthusiastic about this prospect, as is the West. Only in Israel has scepticism prevailed so far.