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Documents

June 14, 1967

Letter from Walter Ulbricht to Leonid Brezhnev

Ulbricht and the SED Politburo suggests coordinating joint policy by seven socialist countries in response to the Six-Day War.

February 10, 1966

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, 'Some Aspects of Israel's Foreign Policy and the GDR's Position Toward Israel"

A detailed analysis of Israel's founding and the history of East German foreign policy toward Israel and the Arab states. Vehemently attacking Israel, and emphasizing the close relations between West Germany and Israel, was considered essential to capture the interest of Arab audiences, steering them towards closer relations with the GDR.

June 15, 1979

Memorandum of the meeting between Erich Honecker and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Israel, Meir Vilner

The conversation starts with Honecker's report on the political and economic situation in the GDR. Meir Vilner informs Honecker about current events in Israel, especially about the position the Communist Party takes toward Zionism, and about his opinion on some foreign policy issues, namely relations with China and Romania and the Middle East peace process.

March 9, 1982

Conversation between Erich Honecker and Yasser Arafat (Excerpt)

This is an excerpt of a conversation which appears in full at BA-SAPMO J IV 2/201/1416. The conversation opens with the issue of French-Israeli relations. France plans to deliver a nuclear reactor to Israel to the opposition of the Arab world. Also mentioned are the deliveries of arms from the GDR to the PLO. Arafat reports on the use of chemical weapons by Israel in Lebanon. These weapons were reportedly delivered by the FRG. Israel also seems to use biological weapons. Final topics of discussion are the role of the Pope in Poland, the question of Jerusalem, and the Islamic movement in Afghanistan.

October 1973

Draft letter from Willi Stoph to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in response to al-Assad's 6 and 10 October 1973 letters to Stoph

Draft letter from Willi Stoph to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad condemning Israel's aggression against Syria.

March 17, 1989

GDR Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department Near and Middle East, 'On the Question regarding a Short-term Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Israel'

On the basis of the information of Kurt Loeffler's visit to Israel, Neumann proposes a list of measures concerning diplomatic contacts in Israel. He says that a change in the Israeli attitude toward conflict in the Middle East is necessary in order for the GDR to establish further contacts in Israel. Neumann discusses other factors which encourage or discourage the establishment of further contact.

June 30, 1986

[GDR] Contacts with Israel

Attachment to a letter from Koenig to Sieber dated 10 July 1986. This report assesses the increase in contact between the GDR and Israel, especially in the field of culture and science. It identifies the advantages and disadvantages of this development, including the negative impression it might create in Arab countries. Greater contact with Israel may damage the GDR's relations with the Arab countries. A proposal is made on the basis of this analysis: all contact with Israel must be carefully coordinated with the GDR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report provides a general list of basic principles for relations with Israel. Attached is a note containing policy advice on Israeli compensation claims.

March 9, 1982

Stenographic Transcript of the Official Talks between Erich Honecker and Yasser Arafat in the House of the Central Committee of the SED in Berlin

The conversation is mainly concerned with the situation in the Middle East, but there are also some remarks about Poland, Afghanistan, and French-Israeli relations. Honecker emphasizes that only the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state can solve the Middle East conflict. He underlines the continuing support of the GDR for the PLO, for example, through military aid and the opening of an official PLO embassy in Berlin. Arafat points to the West German support for Israel and asks for further military aid.