Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Opposition leader Fritz Erler declared today that the arrival of West German Ambassador Rolf Pauls in Israel and Israeli Ambassador Asher Ben-Nathan in Bonn opened “a new page in relations between the two countries.”
Speaking at an election meeting in Neumunster, Chancellor Erhard said the exchange was a “step forward” in political relations between the two governments. “I wish the first German Ambassador in Israel success in his mission for the benefit of both the Israeli and German nations,” he added.
Dr. Erler, who is the shadow Cabinet Foreign Minister of the Social Democratic Party, declared in a special SPD communique that the exchange of envoys was “one of the major postwar political developments.” He added that this step should not be an end in itself, but that both countries should continue to work for an improvement in relations, particularly among their younger generations.
The entire West German press, radio and television networks welcomed the event. One broadcaster declared that “the entire German nation heaved a sign of relief as the news came in Wednesday evening and Thursday morning of the uneventful arrival in Israel of Dr. Pauls.” Radio and television networks interrupted programs last night to announce the envoy’s safe arrival, and indicated they saw in this a significant and welcome omen for improvement of relations between the two countries.
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