German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for Israel to take small steps toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Merkel was speaking to reporters in Berlin at a news conference Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a joint session of their two governments.
“Now is certainly not the time to make really comprehensive progress,” she said, “but you can achieve improvements in certain places.”
The joint session, the sixth for the two governments, celebrated the cooperation between Israel and Germany.
“When we are in Germany, we know we’re among good friends,” Netanyahu said following the meeting. “These regular G2G meetings are a testament to the unique partnership which we have today between our nations, and they clearly demonstrate the breadth and scope of the cooperation between our two countries.”
During the meeting, “both sides agreed that the preservation of the memory of the Shoah for future generations continues to be a pillar of their relationship. In this context, Germany emphasized its commitment and special responsibility to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and to its security,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“Both sides also strongly reaffirmed that any challenge to the right of existence of the State of Israel is unacceptable. Against the backdrop of unrest and terrorist threats in the region, both sides expressed their hope for Israel’s peaceful coexistence with all its neighbors.”
