- Title: Merkel and Abbas meet to discuss two-state solution in Berlin
- Date: 29th August 2019
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 29, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ARRIVING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We will of course talk about the situation in the Palestine region, and we will also do that with a good basis, particularly on the basis that a political solution must come that leads to the result that Palestinians and Israelis can live together in peace and safety. In our opinion, that is only possible through a two-state agreement between the conflicting parties under the consideration of internationally agreed upon parameters. That must be the goal as before." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "I believe it is a very good point in time for us to not talk over each other, rather talk to each other today. And then also gain a better, good understanding for the current state." MERKEL SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL GERMAN TRANSLATION) "Regretfully, the U.S. administration is not helpful in establishing peace and safety in our region by wanting to exclude issues such as Jerusalem, refugees, the borders, housing development and security from the negotiations. International institutions are being replaced and measures implemented which are in objection to the reference foundation developed by the international community. That's why we call for international accompaniment in the negotiations on the basis of what I suggested to the (U.N.) Security Council - a Middle East quartet with European and Arab states to accompany negotiations between us and Israel." ABBAS AND MERKEL IN VIEWFINDER ABBAS TALKING CAMERAMAN ABBAS AND MERKEL SHAKING HANDS / LEAVING
- Embargoed: 12th September 2019 10:49
- Keywords: Merkel Abbas Palestine meeting in Berlin Israel peace U.S. administration
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AU9SQ4N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday criticised the United States government for "not being helpful in establishing peace and safety" in the region.
Speaking in Berlin during a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Abbas called for international assistance in forming a "Middle East quartet with European and Arab states to accompany negotiations between us and Israel."
Merkel reiterated her stance that only a two-state solution could bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The U.S. will not release the political portion of its Israeli-Palestinian peace plan before Israel's elections on Sept. 17, White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt said on Wednesday (August 28).
Earlier this year, deadly violence erupted again on the Gaza Strip with hundreds of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli air strikes.
Some 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza, the economy of which has suffered years of Israeli and Egyptian blockades as well as recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas' West Bank-based rival.
(Production: Leon Malherbe, Barbara Woolsey) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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