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<i>An aeroplane</i>
<i>with the German air force's emblem,</i>

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<i>the German national anthem</i>
<i>played by Israeli soldiers;</i>

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<i>a warm welcome that couldn't quite be</i>
<i>concealed by the schematic protocol.</i>

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<i>An event in Israel that would have</i>
<i>been unimaginable some years ago.</i>

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<i>Yet thousands of policemen</i>
<i>and riflemen guarded Willy Brandt,</i>

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<i>the first German head of government</i>
<i>to visit Israel.</i>

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<i>The country expected advice</i>
<i>and help from the Chancellor</i>

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<i>in the political resolution</i>
<i>of the Middle East conflict.</i>

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<i>Since the June War, Israel has</i>
<i>taken control of Arabic territory,</i>

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<i>including the Old City of Jerusalem,</i>

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<i>with its historic sites</i>
<i>such as the Wailing Wall.</i>

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<i>Unofficially, it was hoped that</i>
<i>the German Nobel Peace Prize winner,</i>

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<i>who had legally</i>
<i>signed off German territory</i>

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<i>in the German Eastern treaties,</i>

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<i>would work towards the same objective</i>
<i>with the Arab states.</i>

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<i>But in the first discussions</i>

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<i>with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir</i>
<i>and President Katzir,</i>

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<i>the Chancellor clearly outlined</i>
<i>Germany's stance</i>

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<i>towards the Middle East Conflict,</i>
<i>once gifts had been exchanged.</i>

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<i>Strict neutrality, including</i>
<i>the commitment to the State of Israel</i>

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<i>and its safe borders.</i>

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<i>Bonn must serve not as an active agent</i>
<i>in the conflict,</i>

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<i>but, as the Chancellor</i>
<i>stated at a celebration dinner</i>

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<i>in the Israeli Parliament building,</i>

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<i>as a fair mediator</i>
<i>of objective information.</i>

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<i>The official Israeli State</i>
<i>accepted this point of view.</i>

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<i>"Collectively work</i>
<i>towards a better future",</i>

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<i>that was the motto of the talks held</i>

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<i>between the Israelis and Germans</i>
<i>over five days.</i>

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<i>The Federal Republic of Germany would</i>
<i>not evade the shadows of the past.</i>

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<i>Willy Brandt stated this</i>
<i>on his arrival.</i>

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<i>The visit to Yad Vashem,</i>

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<i>the memorial to</i>
<i>the victims of the Holocaust,</i>

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<i>became the emotional highlight</i>
<i>of the visit to Israel.</i>

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<i>After prayer, the Chancellor</i>
<i>placed a wreath on the ground.</i>

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<i>After falling to his knees</i>
<i>at the monument in Warsaw,</i>

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<i>he made a less spectacular gesture.</i>

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<i>He read out loud</i>
<i>the Old Testament's Psalm 103.</i>

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"The Lord is merciful and gracious,"

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"slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy."

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"He will not always chide,"

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"neither will he
keep his anger forever."