Asher Ben-Nathan, Israel’s first Ambassador to West Germany, assailed today “indiscriminate criticism” of West Germany which he said often countered Israel’s own interests. The envoy is currently here on home leave.
He told a press conference that “painting everything black and ignoring the positive developments in West Germany” might create a crisis in German-Israeli relations. Such criticisms, he added, also robbed of its impact legitimate criticism such as he himself had often voiced.
The envoy was particularly critical of the “cold treatment” given in Israel to German tourists, including students, who included the most liberal and progressive elements in West Germany.
Mr. Ben-Nathan referred to a recent speech by Dr. Rolf Pauls, the West German Ambassador to Israel, at the Tel Aviv Fair in which the latter criticized Israel saying, among other things, that Israel was not sufficiently grateful for West German aid. The Israel Ambassador said that while he did not agree with everything Dr. Pauls had said, the German envoy had the right to express his opinions.
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