German, Israeli ministers conclude 'historic' encounter - Summary

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet in Berlin Monday, in what both leaders described as an "historic" visit. "To come here, 65 years after the Holocaust as Prime Minister of ... an independent Jewish state is an historic moment. To have these conversations with the government of a rebuilt Germany is historically important," Netanyahu said.

Members of the Israeli cabinet including Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer met their German counterparts during the course of the day, which also included a visit to the Holocaust Memorial in the center of Berlin.

Merkel and Netanyahu touched on "a broad spectrum" of issues including preparations for further sanctions on Iran, the Middle East peace process, as well as economic and technical cooperation between the two states.

Germany conducts such close cabinet-to-cabinet meetings with only a handful of states, including France and Poland, and as such has a special relationship with Israel.

The first such cabinet meeting took place in Jerusalem in 2008.

"It is extraordinarily important that, because of the historical responsibility that Germany has for existence and future of Israel, we cooperate on the whole breadth of our bilateral relationship," Chancellor Merkel said at a joint press conference.

Merkel and Netanyahu both pushed the need for new economic sanctions on Iran, following Tehran's refusal to accept a UN deal proposed late last year on its uranium enrichment program.

"We have made it clear that if the reaction of Iran does not change, we will cooperate in the preparation of wide-ranging sanctions ... preferably within the framework of a UN Security Council resolution," she said.

Netanyahu called for immediate "crippling sanctions" and said "a regime that oppresses its people ... cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons.

"We know from recent history that a regime that tyrannizes its people will tyrannize the world," Netanyahu said.

On the Israeli-Palestinian peace-process, Chancellor Merkel said that Germany still expected more movement from Jerusalem on the question of a stop to settlement building than had been offered.

"Germany would have expected more from Israel where the building of settlements is concerned, but we recognize that Israel has made important steps. Primarily it is important that the peace process gets back on track," Merkel said.

Palestinian leaders have demanded a complete halt to the building of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories before they will enter into peace negotiations.

However Netanyahu said that "we should stop talking about talking peace. I am ready for peace. I hope the Palestinians will show equal readiness."

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle earlier in the day, with the ministers agreeing a further strengthening of cultural relations between the two states.

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle announced that an "Israel Innovation Day" would take place in 2010, to foster cooperation and development between the two countries' small- and medium-sized enterprises.

"Israel is one of the leading countries in the high-technology area, and offers many possibilities for closer cooperation," Bruederle said.

The value of combined trade between Germany and Israel in 2008 reached 4.3 billion euros (6.2 billion dollars), figures from the Economy Ministry confirmed.

Ministers would not, however, be drawn on media reports that the Israeli government is seeking to obtain a sixth Dolphin-class submarine for its navy. The sale of the previous five submarines to the Israeli Defense Force came under criticism because they can potentially carry nuclear weapons.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/304459,german-israeli-ministers-conclude-historic-encounter--summary.html.