BERLIN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clashed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday over new Jewish settlements but both were at pains to stress their unshakable ties.
On a visit that had risked being overshadowed by the diplomatic storm that has strained relations with close allies, Netanyahu joined Merkel for a meeting between most of their cabinet ministers after a private dinner late Wednesday.
Merkel told reporters at a joint news conference that Germany, like other Western partners, hoped Israel would drop plans to build more than 3,000 settler homes on a strategic strip of occupied Palestinian land.
“On the question of settlements, we are agreed that we are not agreed,” she said with a wry smile, looking at Netanyahu.
Netanyahu insisted his settlements policy did not mark a radical new departure, and were merely picking up where other Israeli governments had left off. He said the homes would remain even in a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
“The curious thing is that most governments who have looked at these suggestions, these proposals over the years, including the Palestinians themselves as revealed in leaked documents, understand that these blocs, these arrangements are going to be part of Israel in a final political settlement of peace,” he said.
“I think the root cause of the problem is not the settlements. I hope that we can engage at least part of the Palestinian people in a discussion about mutual co-existence, about mutual peace.”
Netanyahu said Israel would continue to seek an accord with the Palestinians.
“Israel remains fully committed to achieving peace with the Palestinians based on the principle of two states for two peoples,” he said. “I haven’t given up on it.”
The Israeli leader arrived from Prague where he had singled out the Czech Republic for its “friendship and courage” as the only European state to have opposed a Palestinian status upgrade at the United Nations last week.
It was Netanyahu’s first European visit since the UN vote.
Setting a bitter tone for the Merkel meeting, Netanyahu had told yesterday’ German daily Die Welt that he was “disappointed” that Berlin had abstained from voting at the UN despite reported pleas by Israel to reject the Palestinian resolution.
But at the press conference, he repeatedly thanked Germany and Merkel personally for unwavering support of Israel’s security.
AFP
