Germany is Europe’s largest economy, most populous nation and influential voice in European institutions. An important global player, it boasts the fourth largest economy in the world. The country has significant influence over Israel’s relations with Europe, advocates for growing economic and scientific ties, and has sponsored several key agreements between the EU and Israel.
Germany is traditionally regarded as Israel’s second most important strategic ally after the United States. With total bilateral trade amounting to $13.9 billion in 2019, Germany is Israel’s largest trade partner in Europe. Both countries share important strategic interests in the Middle East, including combating terrorism and extremism, while promoting regional stability and peace. Germany supports various Israeli defense projects and plays a key role vis-a-vis Iran. The German government led efforts to place Hezbollah’s military wing on the EU’s list of designated terrorist organizations.
Israel’s security and well-being have been a fundamental pillar of German post-war foreign policy. Chancellor Angela Merkel characterized Germany’s support for Israel’s right to exist to its raison d’état. The painful history of relations between the Jewish people and Germany continues to have a profound impact on political ties between Israel and Germany. But German sympathy for Israel is eroding, as the generation after the Holocaust is succeeded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren for whom the past is less immediate. It is one of the great challenges to maintain the high level of bilateral relations and to keep Israel on top of the Ger-man political agenda. Moreover, it is paramount for both countries to find out how much they actually have in common, the interests and values they share, that go far beyond the well-known ties of history.
ELNET in Germany
ELNET was established in Berlin in 2014 and is an independent non-profit organiza-tion. It facilitates closer relations between Germany and Israel on the basis of shared democratic interests and values. Together with its affiliates in Israel, France, Poland and Belgium, ELNET-Germany fosters the ties between European and Israeli decision makers and builds a network with its dialogue programs and delegations.

German-Israeli Network of Startups & Mittelstand Launches Ambassadors’ Initiative
ELNET’s GINSUM innovation project will be supported by a network of more than 50 German and Israeli ambassadors.

Sylke Tempel Fellowship Program 2021
We are pleased to announce the launch of the third edition of the Sylke Tempel Fellowship Program, which awards fellowship grants to young journalists & media creatives from Germany and Israel.

German Lawmakers in Favor of Closer Cooperation With Israel and More Engagement in the Middle East
A survey among German parliamentarians carried out by ELNET-Germany demonstrates overwhelming support for larger German engagement in the Middle East and closer cooperation with Israel.

ELNET Launches New Initiative to Bring Israeli Innovation to Germany, With Support of the German Government
In the 55th year of German-Israeli diplomatic relations, ELNET-Germany launches the German Israeli Network of Startups and Mittelstand (GINSUM). The two-year program, funded with a

Germany: The IHRA Definition As a Requirement For State Funding
ELNET Germany recommends the introduction of a clause that applies to all federal and state subsidy recipients to recognize and apply the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

Eighth German-Israeli Strategic Forum
On December 2, ELNET-Germany and the Forum of Strategic Dialogue (FSD) hosted the Eighth German-Israeli Strategic Forum.

Carsten Ovens

Janika Bratvogel

Viktor Frank

Natalie Gips

Marius Strubenhoff

Marc Jacob
