A large delegation of young politicians from Germany arrived at the German States Forest in the Negev on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, to take part in the inauguration of a grove of trees in memory of late German politician and friend of Israel, Philipp Missfelder.
Group phot at the German States Forest. Photo: Dennis Zinn
Leading the delegation were two Bundestag members, Paul Ziemiak and Mark Hauptmann, and the participants were all members of the Junge Union Deutschlands (JU), translated as the Young Union of Germany. Many of them had visited the site in 2016, one year after Philipp Missfelder passed away when the grove planting project was launched.
Philipp Missfelder was a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and served as the foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU and Christian Social Union parties in the Bundestag. Earlier in his career, he served as chairman of the JU for over 12 years until he became a member of parliament. He was considered Berlin’s most passionate political advocate for Israel and the Jewish citizens of Germany. He died in 2015 at the age of 35 due to a pulmonary embolism.
Judith Perl-Strasser of KKL-JNF’s European Department opened the proceedings by welcoming the guests and providing an overview of KKL-JNF and the history of the forest.
“The German States Forest is part of Lahav Forest, which is located in the Negev near the city of Beersheva. KKL JNF started planting this forest in 1952 and today it covers an area of more than 30,000 dunams (approx. 7,400 acres). The forest provides a lush contrast to its barren dry surroundings. It has become a center of activity for residents of the area and many other visitors, with the Joe Alon Center for Regional Studies, underground tunnels, desert wildflowers, active recreation areas, archeological ruins with remains from Jewish and Christian villages, and bicycle paths.”
Also on site to meet the group was Elisha Mizrahi of KKL-JNF’s Department of Protocol and VIP Ceremonies. Mizrahi said that he was certain that Phillip was watching the ceremony from ‘up there’ and smiling.
“This event symbolizes precisely what he was advocating, and that is an ever tighter bond between our two countries. I am a forester by profession and I know that planting trees is a happy event in every respect. This is a most wonderful memorial for Phillip and all that he stood for.”
KKL-JNF Emissary to Germany Johannes Gaugnin read a message from the JNF KKL Germany Vice President Mirko Freitag, who was unable to travel to Israel to attend the ceremony.
“I very much wanted to be there with all of you but unfortunately I was unable to attend the inauguration ceremony. On behalf of JNF Germany, I wish to express my deep gratitude for your continued and unremitting support. The young grove of trees which we planted represents not only the memory of a friend but also represents the strong friendship between the two countries. It must be pointed out that this event, which is supported by the JU, Germany’s largest youth movement, is taking place at a time when much of European Jewry feels threatened once again, and Israel is under attack.”
Visiting delegation leader Paul Ziemiak, current chairman of the JU and a member of the Bundestag, responded by thanking KKL-JNF for providing the opportunity to plant a grove of trees in memory of Philipp Missfelder.
“Philipp was motivated not only by the dark past concerning our two peoples but also by a wish for a good future between our two countries. I know that Philipp would be proud to be here today as a politician from Germany during the 70th Anniversary of the Jewish State of Israel. He always declared that Israel has the right to exist and to defend itself if necessary. He expressed his views loudly and clearly.”
Mark Hauptmann, Member of Bundestag and Chairman of the Young Group of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction also spoke on behalf of the visitors.
“Philipp Missfelder led a whole generation of young politicians in parliament who heard him repeatedly standing up for Israel unconditionally even in critical times. He was a powerful person and his voice had influence. I know that and felt that because I was his international secretary. While never forgetting the Holocaust, Philipp was also influenced by the fact that Israel was a light of democracy and stability in a volatile region. Philipp was well known in Israel and had many friends here.”
Delegation leader Paul Ziemiak and Mark Hauptmann unveiled the dedication plaque which read:
Philipp Missfelder
(1979-2015)
Member of Bundestag
Donated by
The Young Guard of the Christian Democratic Party
For support of Israel
And in memory of our honorable chairman
The group read the Planter’s Prayer in unison and then took part in the symbolic planting of a single tree in the garden adjacent the German States Forest Recognition Site.
KKL-JNF’s Judith Perl-Strasser presented delegation leader Paul Ziemiak with a tree planting certificate.
Over coffee after the ceremony, several delegation members explained that they had just traveled to Sde Boker and the southern Negev and had images fresh in their minds of what the desert would look like if left unattended. They mentioned that they had also visited Ben Gurion’s hut in Sde Boker and heard about his dream of settling the Negev. These members said they felt, in some way, that the large grove they had just inaugurated was part of that dream.
The group traveled back to Germany the following day after a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whom, they said at the ceremony, was very keen to meet and get to know the incoming cadre of young German politicians.