Germans, Jews Open Offices

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30828, 13 August 1965, Page 11

Germans, Jews Open Offices

(N.Z.PA.- Reuter—Copyright)

TEL AVIV, August 12.

The first West German Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Rolf Pauls, said on arrival in Tel Aviv yesterday, that Jews and Germans had to face together a terrible past which should not be forgotten.

There were no incidents as Dr. Pauls arrived.

However, a large demonstration against the establishment of relations with Germany was later called for by the nationalist opposition party, Heruth.

A woman, a former inmate of a Nazi concentration camp, went to the airport for the arrival of the former Wehrmacht officer. She stood with her two children holding a banner bearing the legend: “We Want a German-free Israel.” Police had taken precautionary measures, but the woman was the only demonstrator although the diplomat’s arrival time had been published in the press. Highly Decorated Dr. Pauls, a highly decorated Wehrmacht officer in World War 11, told reporters at the airport: “1 think that the Jews and the Germans have a future. It is up to our generation to pave the way for a brighter future of freedom, peace and justice in common. “In this spirit my work and my efforts will go to establish solid relations between Germany and Israel. “All my love and all my efforts will belong to bringing voung Jews and young Germans together to foster understanding and co-operation.” Earlier Demonstration The announcement of Dr. Pauls’ appointment last July aroused a series of minor demonstrations in Israel. In one of them, several hundred marchers carried banners describing him as “an officer in Hitler’s army.” But the “Jerusalem Post” said in an editorial today that Dr. Pauls was “never a Nazi and, as a man of clean record and high capability, he represents the present German

Government’s idea of a suitable personality to develop political relations with another country.” Meanwhile, Mr Asher BenNathan, Israel’s Ambassador to West Germany, left Tel Aviv yesterday for Bonn.