Mideast compromise is vital, says German envoy in S.F.

Citing a "weakening of the will" in Mideast peace efforts, the German ambassador to the United States told a forum for American Jews that Israelis and Palestinians must both come to the negotiation table ready to compromise.

Offering a gentle prod to peace efforts, Ambassador Jurgen Chrobog said that while his country deplored the recent suicide bombing in Jerusalem, it has also been put in a difficult position by Israel's housing policy in the territories and eastern Jerusalem.

"I have seen a weakening of the will in the last few months," Chrobog told a packed crowd Wednesday of last week in the Koret Board Room at the Jewish Community Federation building Wednesday night. The event was sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the American Jewish Committee.

Although Germany's support and strong trade relations with Israel remain firm, the European nation was not happy about Israel's recent housing ventures. Such moves as the Har Homa development in eastern Jerusalem forced Germany to break reluctantly from its European allies, Chrobog said. In a recent U.N. vote condemning the Har Homa development, other European countries voted to condemn Israel. Germany abstained.

"It was a hard decision, and we can't do it often," Chrobog said. He explained that Germany's commitment to a United Europe and a Common Market require that it join other countries in the union in a united voice.

Peace in the Middle East, Chrobog said, would aid a united Europe. Germany has stayed out of peace negotiations, however, believing that Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states have to find a solution themselves.

"It can't be imposed by any European country, especially Germany," he said.

During the event, the ambassador fielded questions from the audience and talked generally about Germany's current relationship with Jews. Boasting of a good relationship between Germany and the American Jewish community, he also pointed out that 60,000 Jews now live in Germany. He added that Germany has been willing to accept criticism for its Nazi past, and has been encouraging Switzerland to compensate Holocaust victims.

Chrobog also reiterated Germany's longtime intention to continue trade with Iran, saying that if Iran is cut off from contact with the outside world, its extremism could intensify. He added that criticism of this policy generally comes only from the United States. Israel finds the policy beneficial, and does not condemn it.

Yet despite this policy, Germany's relations with Iran are extremely poor. "They're nearly at the freezing point," he said.

Chrobog's appearance in San Francisco was part of a tour through the Western states that included a meeting in Berkeley and a planned visit to Utah. Among those attending the San Francisco forum was Karsten Volgt, the German parliamentary representative from Frankfurt am Main.