(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

On 25 February 2014, the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel held the fifth round of intergovernmental consultations in Jerusalem. One of the main topics discussed by the participants was marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany in the year 2015.

In the run-up to the consultations the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Germany and Israel, in cooperation with Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design launched a logo design competition. Mixed couples of German and Israeli students worked together on creative proposals for a jubilee year logo. A total number of 18 proposals were submitted out of which a joint Israeli-German committee chose the logo which was designed by Mr. Ariel Wollek and Ms. Ticha Matting. They explained that they had created the logo having two meanings in mind. It can be perceived as a bow tie representing the diplomatic relations, but it can also be perceived as the symbol of infinity, envisioning the future of our relations and its full potential.