This Tuesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel talked to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by telephone. Prior to this call, she had conducted a telephone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on Sunday 18 March.
The talk with President Abbas focused on the Middle East peace process and the new government of national unity in the Palestinian territories.
Chancellor Merkel welcomed the fact that the newly formed government of national unity had put an end to the clashes between rival Palestinian factions. At the same time, she called on the new government to meet the criteria of the so-called Middle East Quartet, in particular to renounce the use of violence and to recognise the state of Israel.
The Chancellor urged Abbas to do everything in his power to ensure the early release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit.
She encouraged the President to make use of his authority to conduct negotiations, reaffirmed in the government's agenda, with a view to making progress on the Middle East peace process.
