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  Angela Merkel ontvangt Honorary Doctorate (engels)
Jerusalem, April 4, 2007 – German Chancellor Angela Merkel received an honorary doctor of philosophy degree on April 1, 2007, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem "in recognition of her lifelong dedication to the principles of democracy and in appreciation of her warm and constant friendship for the people and State of Israel."

The award ceremony took place on the Mount Scopus campus of the university. Making the presentation were Hebrew University President Prof. Menachem Magidor and Rector Haim Rabinowitch. The Hebrew University event took place in the context of a state visit to Israel by the German chancellor.

In her remarks following the degree presentation, Chancellor Merkel said that it was a special honor to receive the honorary Ph.D. degree from the Hebrew University since this was the first such degree to be given to her. Now, she said, “the Hebrew University is my university too.” The chancellor also pledged that that she would always remain faithful to “the fight against racism and anti-Semitism in Germany” and to “Israel’s right to live in security and honor.”

Merkel noted that the Hebrew University was formally opened 82 years ago on the same day as today’s ceremony, and that from its very inception it had close ties with Germany, citing in particular the names of Albert Einstein and Martin Buber as among its founding fathers. Today, she said, the Hebrew University continues to be a leading center of study and research that has extensive ties with German researchers and foundations.

In his opening remarks, Hebrew University President Magidor praised Merkel as a great leader of Germany and of the European Union (she is currently head of the Council of the European Union).

"A champion of democracy, Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of this generation’s outstanding world leaders whose milestone election as the first female chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and first eastern German citizen to serve in that position symbolizes the unity of her country and its aspirations for the future," said Magidor. He also cited in particular her “great friendship for Israel and the Jewish people.”

Dr. Merkel is a physicist who, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, became actively involved in the Demokratischer Aufbruch party which later merged with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. She was elected to the Bundestag in 1990, going on to serve as Federal Minister for Women and Youth and Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. In 2000, Merkel was elected the first female chair of the Christian Democratic Union, in 2002 she became opposition leader in the Bundestag, and in 2005 she was elected chancellor.

Throughout her public career, the honorary doctorate scroll awarded to her states, "Chancellor Merkel has shown herself to be an inspiring political leader in Germany, as well as an international leader who is committed to the struggle against international terror. She is an unwavering friend and supporter of Israel who has acted and spoken out on behalf of the Jewish community on numerous occasions. Profoundly aware of Germany’s special responsibility towards Israel and the Jewish people, she ascribes the greatest importance to German-Israel ties in the diplomatic, security, economic and social spheres, including the many bilateral and trilateral research cooperation projects that exist between academics in Israel, Germany and Arab countries. Chancellor Merkel stands at the helm of Europe’s fight against fascism and is determined to raise awareness of anti-Semitism among all Europeans, in particular young people."

Among those also attending the degree ceremony were the president of the German Friends of the Hebrew University, Ron Jakubowicz; the president of the German Jewish Community, Charlotte Knoblauch; and the vice-chairman of the Hebrew University Board of Governors, Michael Federmann.