Over 100 German soldiers arrived in Israel earlier this month to participate in the largest joint military exercise ever held between the two countries, Ha’aretz reported on Wednesday.

The Israeli and German armies have conducted joint exercises in urban combat in recent weeks — the largest joint training ever between the two countries.

Over a hundred German soldiers arrived in Israel three weeks ago to train at the Tze’elim army base in the south. In addition to infantry and logistics troops, Germany sent five heavy military vehicles. …

The 110 German soldiers from the 1st Panzer Division were joined by the deputy divisional commander, Brig. Gen. Ernst-Peter Horn. During his stay he visited Yad Vashem; he said he felt a duty to visit the Holocaust research center and memorial on his first visit to the country.

The German soldiers arrived three weeks ago and are scheduled to return home on Friday.

During her visit to Israel this past May, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen talked about the close security relationship between her country and the Jewish state. Israel has purchased five Dolphin class submarines from Germany and is looking to purchase a sixth.

In June, 100 German business leaders visited Israel to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. That same month, a German computer institute announced plans to open a cyber-security center in Israel.

[Photo: Israel Defense Forces / Flickr ]