There is no justification for violence, she said. It is also important for President Mahmoud Abbas to make this quite clear. Very recently we have seen a cowardly attack on a bus, which we not only deeply regret – we condemn the attack. The people in the region must be offered political prospects, said Angela Merkel. At the moment what we are seeing is a failure to engage in dialogue.

Relaunching the political process

President Mahmoud Abbas fully agreed with her, said the Chancellor, "that efforts must continue to achieve a two-sate solution, even if this is very, very difficult". The Israeli people and the Palestinian people have the right to live in peace and security, added the Chancellor.

During this current phase, where we can see more failure to engage in dialogue, the Chancellor pointed out that it is deemed important to uphold the security partnership between Israel and the Palestinian territories. This partnership ensures that a climate is maintained in which dialogue is at least possible, she said. Then we can once again enter into a political process. The settlement activities of Israel are, however, counterproductive, and create an obstacle to a two-state solution. With a view to the French initiative for the region, the Chancellor said that every chance to make progress must be used.

Two-state solution
Germany and its partners are convinced that an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state that can live side by side with Israel in peace and security can only be achieved through negotiation. Only a negotiated two-state solution can meet the legitimate demands of both sides and finally end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Development cooperation

The Chancellor reported that a significant number of projects have been implemented to improve the situation of the people. One example is the assistance that has been provided to strengthen police structures.

Development cooperation is an important part of Germany’s engagement in the Palestinian territories. Improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and further strengthening Palestinian institutions at central and municipal level are major prerequisites for finding a permanent solution to the Middle East conflict. Peace can only be achieved and a viable Palestinian state built when the people have genuine prospects of a better future. One focus is on economic and social stabilisation measures designed to have a swift impact on the ground.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is operating in four priority areas: water, sanitation and solid waste management; economic reform, employment and the labour market; institution building and civil society; the Civil Peace Service. GIZ is implementing measures in the priority area of security, peace building and reconstruction on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.