German leader Merkel - Coming soon
Photo: Reuters
Germany's Merkel to visit Israel
Angela Merkel meets with Vice Prime Minister Olmert, tells him she admires PM Sharon's courage
German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to visit Israel in the near future, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.
The German leader expressed her desire to visit Israel in a meeting she held with Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday, in the framework of the Barcelona international convention that brought together European and Mediterranean leaders.
Olmert's meeting with Merkel was the first held by an Israeli with the newly elected German leader During the meeting Merkel expressed her desire to visit Israel, and said she intends to arrive at the country soon, perhaps even before the elections here take place, in late March.
In her meeting with Olmert, Merkel also emphasized Germany's commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear arms, and stated that she was opposed to Hamas participation in the Palestinian Authority elections.
The German leader also said she admires Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's courage.
Olmert, meanwhile, also held a meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and told him the PA's obligation to fight terror was first and foremost in the interest of the Palestinians themselves.
"You know what Israel has done in the last two years. Now it's you turn to do something. It's better that you fight terror than us," Olmert told Abbas.
In another meeting, between Olmert and the Egyptian foreign minister, the two agreed to hold a joint conference for Israeli and Egyptian businessmen in the near future.
