The repeatedly postponed first meeting between Asher Ben-Nathan. Israel’s Ambassador to West Germany, and Chancellor Ludwig Erhard was finally held this weekend on a special request by the Chancellor.
The usually routine initial meeting between the Israeli ambassador and West Germany’s chief executive was postponed repeatedly after the Israeli envoy’s arrival earlier this year. The first reason for the postponement was given by West German officials as the Parliamentary election campaign which ended September 19 with Chancellor Erhard’s Christian Democratic Union retaining its position as the dominant political party in the federal republic.
After the election, the explanation was given that protocol required that the Chancellor receive six other envoys ahead of the Israeli. The Chancellor bypassed protocol in requesting the meeting which lasted 30 minutes. No information on the content of the talk was released.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
