Chancellor Konrad Adenauer will make one final effort to establish full West German-Israel diplomatic ties before he retires this fall, the Los Angeles Times reported from Bonn.
The report quoted sources in the Chancellor’s Christian Democratic Union and in the Foreign Ministry at Bonn as saying that such recognition was one of the Chancellor’s “fondest hopes.” The report also said his chances of succeeding were “regarded as good.” The report cited the large group of West German Parliamentarians who favor the move, both in behalf of improved West German-Israel ties and to increase trade with Israel.
The opposition was reported stemming from another large group, mostly in the Foreign Office, which feels that establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel would wreck a basic West German policy of refusing to recognize any regime which recognizes East Germany, The argument, the report said, was that, the moment Bonn recognized Israel, most of the Arab states would recognize East Germany-thus imperiling West German ties with the Arab world.
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