German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is going to Israel for a snap visit on Tuesday as war rages in Europe.

It comes after Israel's Foreign Minster Yair Lapid spoke with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, about Israel's offer of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.&nbsp;

The visit is significant because of Germany's anti-semitic past. Israel will always be marked by the Shoah, Nazi Germany's mass murder of 6 million Jews. And yet the relationship has developed impressively since 1965, the year full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries.

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Often described as predictable and "robotic", Chancellor Olaf Scholz has become emboldened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, smashing policy taboos to steer Germany into "a new era" that could reshape its role on the world stage.

Just a few weeks ago, German media were openly asking "where is Scholz?", slamming the Social Democrat's perceived lack of leadership on pressing issues like the coronavirus pandemic and worsening Ukraine crisis.

But Moscow's attack on Ukraine last week has jolted the chancellor into action, culminating in what commentators have called a "historic" speech on Sunday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/germany-to-intensify-cooperation-in-indo-pacific-envoy-lindner-446801">Also read |&nbsp;Germany to intensify cooperation in Indo-Pacific: Envoy Lindner</a>

Scholz, who has only been in office three months, spoke with uncharacteristic clarity when he unveiled a slew of defence and foreign policy shifts that promise to upend Germany's decades-long reluctance to raising its military profile.

Addressing an emergency parliamentary session, Scholz told the nation that "we are now in a new era".

In a country haunted by post-war guilt, Scholz assured Germans that they were "on the right side of history" as Ukraine's allies.

Among the headline-grabbing announcements was a pledge to earmark 100 billion euros ($113 billion) this year alone to modernise the chronically underfunded the army, called the Bundeswehr.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-work-together-with-the-west-says-putin-in-joint-press-conference-with-olaf-scholz-453543">Also read |&nbsp;'Ready to work together' with the West, says Putin in joint press conference with Olaf Scholz</a>

Scholz also said that Europe's biggest economy would commit to spending more than two percent of Germany's gross domestic product on defence annually, surpassing even NATO's target.

After facing criticism for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv, unlike other Western allies, Scholz said Berlin will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks.

Berlin also approved the delivery of 400 RPGs from the Netherlands and a request by Estonia to pass on old GDR howitzers to Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is going to Israel for a snap visit on Tuesday as war rages in Europe. It comes after Israel's Foreign Minster Yair Lapid spoke with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, about Israel's offer of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is going to Israel for a snap visit on Tuesday as war rages in Europe. It comes after Israel's Foreign Minster Yair Lapid spoke with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, about Israel's offer of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The visit is significant because of Germany's anti-semitic past. Israel will always be marked by the Shoah, Nazi Germany's mass murder of 6 million Jews. And yet the relationship has developed impressively since 1965, the year full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. Often described as predictable and "robotic", Chancellor Olaf Scholz has become emboldened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, smashing policy taboos to steer Germany into "a new era" that could reshape its role on the world stage. Just a few weeks ago, German media were openly asking "where is Scholz?", slamming the Social Democrat's perceived lack of leadership on pressing issues like the coronavirus pandemic and worsening Ukraine crisis. But Moscow's attack on Ukraine last week has jolted the chancellor into action, culminating in what commentators have called a "historic" speech on Sunday. Also read | Germany to intensify cooperation in Indo-Pacific: Envoy Lindner Scholz, who has only been in office three months, spoke with uncharacteristic clarity when he unveiled a slew of defence and foreign policy shifts that promise to upend Germany's decades-long reluctance to raising its military profile. Addressing an emergency parliamentary session, Scholz told the nation that "we are now in a new era". In a country haunted by post-war guilt, Scholz assured Germans that they were "on the right side of history" as Ukraine's allies. Among the headline-grabbing announcements was a pledge to earmark 100 billion euros ($113 billion) this year alone to modernise the chronically underfunded the army, called the Bundeswehr. Also read | 'Ready to work together' with the West, says Putin in joint press conference with Olaf Scholz Scholz also said that Europe's biggest economy would commit to spending more than two percent of Germany's gross domestic product on defence annually, surpassing even NATO's target. After facing criticism for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv, unlike other Western allies, Scholz said Berlin will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks. Berlin also approved the delivery of 400 RPGs from the Netherlands and a request by Estonia to pass on old GDR howitzers to Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to visit Israel

Israeli and German fighter pilots on Tuesday carried out their first joint military exercises in Germany, honouring holocaust victims and the 11 Israelis slain at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-unveils-new-weapons-system-sky-thunder-amid-tensions-with-taiwan-report-321456" hreflang="en">China unveils new weapons system 'Sky Thunder' amid tensions with Taiwan: Report</a>

A formation of fighter aircraft, including Israeli Air Force F-16s and Eurofighter jets from the German Luftwaffe, began the commemorations with an overfly of the Fuerstenfeldbruck airbase near Munich to mark the Olympic massacre.

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This is history. 
 
The moment the Israeli Air Force, led by Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, entered into German airspace for the first time ever &amp; was welcomed by the Luftwaffe Commander, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhatz: <a href="https://t.co/CSkFBXnkzE">pic.twitter.com/CSkFBXnkzE</a>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1295420781216833539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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They then carried out an aerial tribute above the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau.

The exercises are the highlight of two weeks of manoeuvres that will see Israeli air forces train on German soil for the first time.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-finalizes-purchase-of-66-f-16-fighter-jets-in-biggest-arms-deal-with-us-321434" hreflang="en">Taiwan finalizes purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets in biggest arms deal with US</a>

Because of the coronavirus pandemic&nbsp;it is the only training mission the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is conducting abroad this year.

Luftwaffe chief Ingo Gerhartz in a statement called the joint exercise "a sign of our friendship today".

He said it was also a reminder that Germany has an enduring responsibility "to fight anti-semitism with the utmost consistency" because of its Nazi past.

The IAF said the mission, which runs until August 28, will give its pilots a chance to practise in unfamiliar surroundings and will include simulated dogfights, air-to-ground battles and missile threats.

Israeli pilots will also take part in aerial manoeuvres with Germany and other NATO members during the deployment.

Germany and&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;have stepped up military cooperation in recent years, with the Luftwaffe taking part in joint exercises in the Israeli Negev desert in 2019.

But the landmark Israeli visit to Germany is heavy with history.&nbsp;Nine members of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team were killed in a shootout in Munich after being taken hostage by Palestinian militants.

The gunmen had earlier already shot dead an Israeli coach and athlete at the Olympic Village.

They were murdered "by a common enemy of&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and Germany: terror", an Israeli air force officer who asked to be identified only as "Major T" told AFP.

The German and Israeli jets then flew low over the Dachau site, which was built in 1933 and served as a model for other concentration camps.

More than 40,000 Jews were killed at Dachau concentration camp during World War II.

The flyover will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Dachau to be attended by IAF commander Amikam Norkin and his German counterpart Gerhartz, as well as German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff.

An Israeli officer, the grandson of a Dachau survivor, will give a speech.

It will be "a very moving event for everyone", said Major T, whose own grandfather was a Holocaust survivor.

The homage comes as Germany grapples with an upsurge in anti-semitic and far-right violence, 75 years after the defeat of the Nazi regime.

In the eastern city of Halle last year&nbsp;a neo-Nazi shot dead two people after trying but failing to storm a synagogue.&nbsp;The attack prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to say Germany needed "to do more" to protect Jewish people.

In June, Kramp-Karrenbauer ordered the partial dissolution of Germany's elite KSK commando force after revelations that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies

Israeli and German fighter pilots on Tuesday carried out their first joint military exercises in Germany, honouring holocaust victims and the 11 Israelis slain at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Israeli and German fighter pilots on Tuesday carried out their first joint military exercises in Germany, honouring holocaust victims and the 11 Israelis slain at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Also read: China unveils new weapons system 'Sky Thunder' amid tensions with Taiwan: Report A formation of fighter aircraft, including Israeli Air Force F-16s and Eurofighter jets from the German Luftwaffe, began the commemorations with an overfly of the Fuerstenfeldbruck airbase near Munich to mark the Olympic massacre. This is history. The moment the Israeli Air Force, led by Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, entered into German airspace for the first time ever & was welcomed by the Luftwaffe Commander, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhatz: pic.twitter.com/CSkFBXnkzE — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 17, 2020 × They then carried out an aerial tribute above the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. The exercises are the highlight of two weeks of manoeuvres that will see Israeli air forces train on German soil for the first time. Also read: Taiwan finalizes purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets in biggest arms deal with US Because of the coronavirus pandemic it is the only training mission the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is conducting abroad this year. Luftwaffe chief Ingo Gerhartz in a statement called the joint exercise "a sign of our friendship today". He said it was also a reminder that Germany has an enduring responsibility "to fight anti-semitism with the utmost consistency" because of its Nazi past. The IAF said the mission, which runs until August 28, will give its pilots a chance to practise in unfamiliar surroundings and will include simulated dogfights, air-to-ground battles and missile threats. Israeli pilots will also take part in aerial manoeuvres with Germany and other NATO members during the deployment. Germany and Israel have stepped up military cooperation in recent years, with the Luftwaffe taking part in joint exercises in the Israeli Negev desert in 2019. But the landmark Israeli visit to Germany is heavy with history. Nine members of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team were killed in a shootout in Munich after being taken hostage by Palestinian militants. The gunmen had earlier already shot dead an Israeli coach and athlete at the Olympic Village. They were murdered "by a common enemy of Israel and Germany: terror", an Israeli air force officer who asked to be identified only as "Major T" told AFP. The German and Israeli jets then flew low over the Dachau site, which was built in 1933 and served as a model for other concentration camps. More than 40,000 Jews were killed at Dachau concentration camp during World War II. The flyover will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Dachau to be attended by IAF commander Amikam Norkin and his German counterpart Gerhartz, as well as German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff. An Israeli officer, the grandson of a Dachau survivor, will give a speech. It will be "a very moving event for everyone", said Major T, whose own grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. The homage comes as Germany grapples with an upsurge in anti-semitic and far-right violence, 75 years after the defeat of the Nazi regime. In the eastern city of Halle last year a neo-Nazi shot dead two people after trying but failing to storm a synagogue. The attack prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to say Germany needed "to do more" to protect Jewish people. In June, Kramp-Karrenbauer ordered the partial dissolution of Germany's elite KSK commando force after revelations that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies

In symbolic first, Israeli fighter pilots train in Germany

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Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to visit Israel

In symbolic first, Israeli fighter pilots train in Germany