Germany wants a secure Israel but differences remain

For almost 50 years Germany has worked “shoulder to shoulder” with Israel to secure its future, “part and parcel” of which is a Jewish state of Israel living alongside a Palestinian state," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after leading with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a joint German-Israeli cabinet session in Jerusalem: “We want to see progress on peace talks,” she said. Talking to reporters the two leaders made no bones of their differences over Jewish settlements and nuclear diplomacy with Iran, while stressing their countries’ deep bonds of friendship and cooperation. Merkel said that a nuclear Iran “not only threatens Israel but Europe as well,” adding that Germany would pursue international talks. Netanyahu replied: "I believe in zero enrichment, zero centrifuges and zero plutonium in Iran."