German-Israeli Dialogue

Ralf Fücks opening speech for the conference 'The state of and outlook for the German-Israeli relationship', discussing the relationship between Israel and Germany in the 50 year mark of diplomatic relations.

Prior to the March 17th elections, much of the public discourse was focused on the question as to whether the elections will bring about a political change in Israel. In the latest round of Jerusalem Talks, we discussed the future social and political opportunities for the Israeli society.

The basic federal law in Germany begins with the words "Aware of its responsibility before God". With regard to approximately one-third of the population, which is not affiliated with any religious community, this is a bold statement. What is then the strutural relathionship between the German "secular state" and religion?

Feminist Rereading is never enough to correct the harms done to women by the subordination suffered and engendered by religious texts. And only a state, dedicated to universal, human rights, can best mitigate the effects of those harms.

While in South and Southeast Asia, South Africa, and the USA Islamic feminism and feminist Islamic theology can be traced back to the early 1980s, having in some cases even had political impact, the situation among the Muslim communities in Germany is characterised primarily by the defence of a conservative religious gender order.

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  

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.

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.