German President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his wife, and Israeli President Reuven Rivli
German President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his wife, and Israeli President Reuven RivliMark Neiman, GPO

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Saturday evening joined German President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbende on a tour of Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Shuk (market).

The German presidential couple arrived in Israel on Saturday for a three-day trip, and requested that his visit to Israel begin with a tour of Jerusalem at night.

In recent years, Mahane Yehuda has become hub of nightlife, offering entertainment, cafes, restaurants and bars, as it transforms each evening from the traditional market stalls and shops.

On Saturday night, Rivlin met Steinmeier and escorted him to the Mahane Yehuda Market, where the two met with leading figures and entrepreneurs from the market, and heard about the transformation the city and the shuk had undergone in recent years.

During the tour, the two presidents tasted some Israeli craft beers, and toured the “Shuk Gallery” created by graffiti artist Solomon Souza.

Souza painted works in graffiti throughout the market on the store shutters, depicting famous Israeli and world figures.

In a surprise for President Rivlin, Souza showed him a new piece graffiti art depicting the President’s late great-grandfather, Yosef Rivlin, who was among the founders of the initial construction of neighborhoods outside of Jerusalem’s Old City.

German President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier with President Reuven Rivlin in Mahane Yehuda
German President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier with President Reuven Rivlin in Mahane YehudaMark Neiman, GPO