This year, the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Of particular importance were scientific and cultural contacts that paved the way for official relations. To celebrate the anniversary, a ceremony was held at the Leopoldina on 26 May 2025.
Together with the State Chancellery and the Ministry of Culture of Saxony-Anhalt, the Leopoldina hosted a ceremony to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel on 26 May 2025 in its main building in Halle (Saale). The ceremony was attended by Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, Saxony-Anhalt Minister-President Reiner Haseloff, David Harel, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and Leopoldina President Bettina Rockenbach, among others.
In her opening speech, Bettina Rockenbach recognised the special quality of the scientific cooperation that has developed between German and Israeli researchers: ‘Our cooperation must be further protected and strengthened – not only in the sense of a strategic partnership, but also in the sense of the history of our countries and for a unique friendship.’
Prime Minister Haseloff also emphasised the close ties in his speech: ‘Many courageous and determined people have contributed to the development and consolidation of German-Israeli relations in recent decades. There is no doubt that this is an extraordinary success story. Close partnerships have developed over the years.’
After the experiences of the Shoah, science and culture have played a decisive role in enabling Israel and Germany to establish diplomatic relations. Scientists from both countries established informal networks as early as the 1950s. In 1957, the physicist and later Nobel Prize winner Hans Jensen was the first German scientist to give a lecture at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel after the Second World War. The first delegation of scientists from the Max Planck Society travelled to Israel in 1959.
Source and additional information: Leopoldina (in German)