President and First Lady Herzog departed yesterday evening, 11 May for a state visit to Germany. Following the visit, they will return to Israel together with the President and First Lady of Germany for a reciprocal visit.
(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
Sunday, 11 May 2025 / 13 Iyar 5785
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog departed this evening, Sunday, for a historic one-day state visit to Germany, at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking 60 years since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.
As part of the visit, which will take place from May 11–13 (13–15 Iyar), the President will meet with the President of Germany, the Chancellor of Germany, the President of the Bundestag, and other senior government officials. He will also be the guest of honor at a state event at the Presidential Palace. President Steinmeier will accompany President Herzog to a memorial ceremony at Platform 17 at Berlin-Grunewald Station. The two Presidents will also hold a joint meeting with more than 100 Israeli and German youth participating in a dialogue on shared history and future.
This state visit marks a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries and reflects a shared commitment to deepening friendship and strategic partnership. It also carries historical significance, reflecting the long-standing development of relations between Israel and Germany.
Following the conclusion of the visit to Germany, President Steinmeier is expected to return to Israel together with President Herzog for a reciprocal state visit, which will include, among other events, a visit to Kibbutz Be’eri — the second joint visit by the presidents to the kibbutz since the outbreak of the war. The presidents will also visit the Israel National Library, and President Herzog will present the Presidential Medal of Honor to President Steinmeier at a state ceremony to be held in his honor at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
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Israel-Germany Reciprocal State Visits
President Herzog’s Visit to Germany
Media Schedule (subject to change)
Monday, May 12 (14 Iyar):
09:30 (Germany) / 10:30 (Israel) 13:15 (Nepal)
President Herzog will be received at the Presidential Palace in Berlin with a formal state welcome ceremony.
Following the ceremony, President Herzog and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will hold a bilateral meeting.
The welcome ceremony will be open to pre-registered media. It will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.
11:15 (Germany) / 12:15 (Israel) 15:00 (Nepal)
Presidents Herzog and Steinmeier will deliver joint statements to the press.
The statements will be broadcast live. Further details to follow. The event will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.
12:00 (Germany) / 13:00 (Israel) 15:45 (Nepal)
President Herzog will meet with President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner.
The meeting will be closed to media coverage. A photo-op will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.
14:00 (Germany) / 15:00 (Israel) 17:45 (Nepal)
The President, along with President Steinmeier and Federal Minister Karin Prien, Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, will meet with around 120 Israeli and German youth in honor of 70 years of German-Israeli youth exchanges.
The meeting will be open to pre-registered media. It will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.
15:30 (Germany) / 16:30 (Israel)
The President and the First Lady will visit the Platform 17 memorial site at at Berlin-Grunewald Station, one of the main deportation points for Berlin’s Jews during the Holocaust.
A memorial ceremony will be held with the participation of the German President and First Lady. The two Presidents will light memorial candles, followed by the recitation of “El Maleh Rachamim” and “Kaddish” memorial prayers.
The visit will be open to pre-registered media. It will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.
16:30 (Germany) / 17:30 (Israel) 20:15 (Nepal)
As part of the state visit, President Herzog will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Chancellor’s Office in Berlin, followed by an expanded bilateral meeting.
The meeting will be closed to media coverage and will be documented by GPO. Materials will be distributed afterward.
19:30 (Germany) / 20:30 (Israel) 23:15 (Nepal)
President and First Lady Herzog will attend a state dinner at the German Presidential Palace.
At the start of the dinner, both presidents will deliver remarks.
The welcome and opening remarks will be open to pre-registered media. The remarks will be documented by GPO, and materials will be distributed afterward.