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New German Coalition Parties Vow to Defend Jews, Israel's Security
(JTA) Cnaan Liphshiz - The new German coalition government agreement, presented Wednesday by the Christian Democratic Union, the Social Democratic Party, and the Greens, states: "We will protect Jews and their institutions together with the federal states. It is a shameful and painful state of affairs in Germany that they must be permanently guarded." The government "will strengthen initiatives that promote Jewish life and promote its diversity, and combat all forms of anti-Semitism." "Israel's security is a national interest" of Germany, and the new government vows to block "anti-Semitic attempts to condemn Israel, also at the UN." It also welcomes normalization of ties between Israel and Arab countries. However, in the past, the Greens and the Social Democrats have criticized Israel frequently.