These were sealed in 1983 with the signing of the friendship treaty between the two cities. The focus of the city friendship is on the development and promotion of close civil society cooperation in the field of youth and culture.

Since then, numerous encounters between the citizens of Bonn and Tel Aviv have created new ways of understanding, involving young people in particular in German-Jewish history.

On the occasion of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the city of Tel Aviv in 2009, the then Mayor Bärbel Dieckmann visited Tel Aviv. This was followed by further visits and conferences, strengthening the friendly relations. For example, the City of Bonn participated in the German-Israeli Partnership Conference in Leipzig in 2016, which was held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel.

The City of Bonn also welcomed a representative of the Tel Aviv Environmental Office to the "Climate Summit for Local and Regional Leaders" at the COP 23 World Climate Conference in 2017.

The city friendship is supported by the German-Israeli Society.