[dodis.ch/52942](https://dodis.ch/52942)TelegramCoded telegram (incoming, translatedfrom Hebrew): Israel State Archives MFA9537/11. Delivered by:28 October 1989. Addressed to Europe divisions 1 and 3.from the Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, Benjamin NavonBenjaminNavon (*1933), [dodis.ch/P57507](https://dodis.ch/P57507),Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, 1989–1993., to the Israeli ForeignMinistrySecret/Usual [priority]Bonn, 27 October 1989Today I had a long talk with Wolfgang MischnickWolfgangMischnick (1921–2002), [dodis.ch/P57508](https://dodis.ch/P57508), Chairman of the FDP faction in the Bundestag of the FRG1968–1991., the chairman of the FDP faction. Mischnick returned 48 hoursago from a visit to East Berlin and was in fact the first Western politician to meetwith Egon KrenzEgon Krenz (*1937), [dodis.ch/P54794](https://dodis.ch/P54794), General Secretary ofthe SED 18.10.1989–3.12.1989 and Chairman of the GDR State Council18.10.1989–6.12.1989. and the East German leadership.
In interviews with the media he spoke of his optimistic impressions with regard toexpected developments in East Germany.
When talking to me, he admitted that he had taken this line not so much because hebelieves it is actually correct, but because he tends to believe that in this caseimpressions and public reports about them can influence the process. His impressionis that there is indeed an atmosphere of change and a strong expectation [of it] among the public, but in private he would not dare topredict that this atmosphere of change will become reality.
He mentioned that Krenz and GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev (*1931),[dodis.ch/P31707](https://dodis.ch/P31707), General Secretaryof the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 11.3.1985–24.8.1991, Chairman of theSupreme Soviet of the Soviet Union 25.5.1989–15.3.1990 and President of the SovietUnion 15.3.1990–25.12.1991. had studied at around the same time at thesenior Party college in Moscow, and it is not impossible that this will influenceKrenz. He emphasized repeatedly that in the USSR change is coming from the top down,whereas in East Germany it is coming from below. It is being adopted – even if onlypartially – by the local functionaries who are trying to pass it up the line, but itis not certain to what extent this will go through. In his opinion a process likethat taking place in Hungary or Poland is not to be expected, due to the significantdifference caused by the German aspect.
First, [concerning] the justification for the existence ofa second German state if it is not socialist and second – the question of a possiblereunification.
I told him about the Israeli-Jewiss dilemma with regard to East Germany, especiallythat country’s unwillingness to relate to its past. I also described the traditionalhostility of East Germany towards Israel and its unsuccessful efforts to gain supportin the U.S. by displaying a seemingly positive attitude to the restoration of acemetery and a synagogue and the employment of a rabbi for the tiny Jewish communityin East Berlin. He told me that at the end of January 1990 he would visit EastGermany at the head of an FDP party delegation and we agreed that we would discussthe latter subject before he leaves.