A spokesman for the West German Foreign Office, asked about a comment by Prime Minister David Ben Gurion that he favored early establishment of diplomatic relations, said today “it would seem the time has not yet come to establish normal relations with Israel.”
It appeared the Bonn spokesman was referring only to the present time, however, and probably to the period between now and the September national election. The spokesman cited specifically the recent press conference statement of Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano that “relations between the federal republic and Israel are so unclouded, clear-cut and good that once both parties agree the time has come to establish normal relations, nothing but direct talks will be needed.”
Israel maintains a purchasing mission in Cologne but the Bonn Government is not represented in Israel. From information available here it appears that the situation concerning diplomatic relations has not changed in recent months and that no exchange of diplomatic recognition had been seriously considered.
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