'Israel's special relations with Germany won't last forever'
German Foreign Ministry official says criticism of Israel's handling of Palestinian issue growing in Germany
German criticism of Israel's foreign policy is growing, particularly in regards to the Palestinian issue, a German Foreign Ministry official told Israeli officials in a closed meeting earlier this week.
Germany's younger generation feels more at liberty to criticize Israel, he added.
The official said that in 20 years time, "the special relationship" between the two countries will not be as it is today.
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He stressed that Germany feels it is very important to maintain its relations with Israel but doubted this would still be relevant in 20 years.
Commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Germany official said that Berlin regards President Mahmoud Abbas as a partner for peace.
"The Palestinians have proven that they are able to maintain calm in the West Bank," he said.
He estimated that the economic problems in the West Bank coupled with the rise of political Islam weaken Abbas which does not serve Israeli or Western interests.
The official also referred to Israel's relations with Egypt and estimated that the Muslim Brotherhood will not cancel the 1979 peace treaty nor will it tighten relations with Jerusalem, as long as there is no progress in the Palestinian issue.
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