- Title: Merkel criticises Netanyahu plan to annex Jordan Valley
- Date: 17th September 2019
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "Like I said before, the German government backs an internationally negotiated peace solution in the sense of a two state solution to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Annexations are always detrimental to peace REPORTERS TYPING ON LAPTOPS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH, SAYING that on Netanyahu announcing intention to annex Jordan valley, does not help bring Israelis and Palestinians together - disaster for any attempt to push two-state solution forward. VARIOUS OF CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING (on IRAN): "Of course we also discussed the situation in Iran. I have explained that we Europeans believe that the deal to stop Iran from acquiring military nuclear capabilities is a building block we need to get back to. But there is also a long list of other burdens coming from Iran like the ballistic missiles programme and its engagement in Syria. So there is a lot to discuss." MERKEL SEEN IN VIEWFINDER NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING (on IRAN): "We prefer a diplomatic process which we are trying to push ahead. But in recent days tensions in the region rose and Germany will always be in favour of deescalation and long-term solutions are only possible through a political process." REPORTER'S NOTEPAD VARIOUS OF KING ABDULLAH SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH, SAYING (on SAUDI ARABIA) that we are all working to bring crisis down and Saudi has our full effort. REPORTER'S NOTEPAD KING ABDULLAH AND MERKEL SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 1st October 2019 13:13
- Keywords: German Chancellor Angela Merkel Jordan King Abdullah Iran Middle East Saudi
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX1O7D3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday (September 17) criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement last week that he intended to annex the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank, saying it hurt efforts to negotiate a peace deal.
"The German government backs an internationally negotiated peace solution in the sense of a two state solution ... annexations are always detrimental to peace solutions. They do not help and therefore we do not agree," said Merkel at a news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah.
The plan announced by Netanyahu, who faces a closely fought election on Tuesday, was "a disaster for any attempt to push two-state solution forward", said King Abdullah.
Merkel also called for a return to an international deal curbing Iran's nuclear activities, saying a diplomatic process was the preferred route to defusing tensions in the Middle East. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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