German Federal Council Unanimously Approves Declaration on 60th Anniversary of German-Israeli Diplomatic Relations
The German Federal Council, in a unanimous decision, has adopted a declaration to mark the 60th anniversary of German-Israeli diplomatic relations. The initiative for the declaration was led by the states of Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The declaration underscores Israel’s right to exist and condemns anti-Semitism in all its forms, calling on the federal government to continue its efforts in de-escalating the Middle East conflict.
Additionally, the council has agreed to push for stricter penalties for the use of knockout drops, a substance often used in sexual and robbery crimes. The proposed law aims to punish the use of such substances as severely as the use of weapons, mirroring the approach taken in Saarland, where an awareness campaign on the dangers of knockout drops has been underway since 2022.
During the council meeting, Saarland’s Minister-President, Anke Rehlinger, in her capacity as Federal Council President, highlighted the significance of the Basic Law, emphasizing the need to continually defend freedom and democracy. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor also attended the meeting.