The Government of West Germany has “acknowledged with pleasure” the vote by Israel’s Parliament last night to accept Bonn’s offer of diplomatic relations, Gunter von Hase, the Government press secretary, told a press conference today.
He said the Israel decision expressed the wish to normalize relations between the two countries. He added that West Germany wanted to create a clear basis for humane relations between Israel and the German people in the conviction that trusting relations should be established with all states for a constructive contribution to world peace.
Answering questions, he said that 85 nations currently maintained diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Arab countries, particularly the East European countries, which he listed one by one. He said countries recognizing Israel included “the best friends of the Arabs” in the neutralist world, the African group and the East European section.
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