Israeli official: 'Israel-Germany ties are close, will continue to be'

A senior Israeli official on Saturday responded to claims that Germany's support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies may be waning, the Israeli Haaretz daily reports.

The official told Haaretz that "ties between Israel and Germany are close and good, and they will continue to be."

The official was responding to a report published by Germany's Der Spiegel online magazine on Friday, titled "Foreign Policy Shift: Skepticism of German-Israeli Friendship Growing in Berlin," in which it claimed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's advisers were "furious" over an article printed in the Israel Hayom newspaper last February, and that they are concerned over the premier's settlement building policies.

Der Spiegel referenced a headline printed by Israel Hayom on February 17 which read " Merkel: Now is not the time for 2-state solution", and claimed that the paper, which is closely aligned with Netanyahu, had " twisted her words" to make it seem as though she supported his policies. The paper said that the Chancellor instead has repeatedly informed Netanyahu that building settlements in the West bank is "disastrous" and that establishing a Palestinian state is not possible while construction continues and expands.

The magazine alleges that Merkel as well as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier believe that Israel risks turning into an "apartheid regime" if it abandons efforts to achieve a two-state solution.

The Chancellor was also quoted by Der Spiegel as saying that "I understand why President Abbas continually seeks out the Security Council," concerning the peace process with Israel.

Merkel met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier this month, however Der Spiegel did not clarify to whom or when Merkel's comments were made.

Source: MENA