This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7303236.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Merkel tells Knesset of 'shame' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told the Israeli parliament that Germans feel great "shame" over the Nazi Holocaust in World War II. | |
| She has welcomed the two countries' "close ties". | |
| These have been strengthened on this visit, with the conclusion of an additional high-level agreement. | |
| But some MPs at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, have protested, saying Ms Merkel's decision to make the speech in the German language was inappropriate. | |
| They say it evokes painful memories of the Holocaust. | |
| However Ms Merkel has been given a warm welcome, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem, and her visit has caused little fuss outside the Knesset. | |
| Mrs Merkel's three-day trip has included meetings with Israeli leaders, and a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. | |
| Mrs Merkel has spoken of her commitment to helping resolve the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, but the Islamist militant movement Hamas has accused her of ignoring Israeli actions in Gaza. | Mrs Merkel has spoken of her commitment to helping resolve the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, but the Islamist militant movement Hamas has accused her of ignoring Israeli actions in Gaza. |
| Joint cabinet meeting | Joint cabinet meeting |
| Ms Merkel and half her cabinet are visiting Israel to mark its 60th anniversary. | |
| On Monday Israel and Germany upgraded their ties. | On Monday Israel and Germany upgraded their ties. |
| Mrs Merkel chaired a joint cabinet session. A joint statement followed on the strengthening of political, cultural, economic and social relations. | |
| In 60 years since the Nazi genocide of European Jews, Germany has become Israel's staunchest ally in Europe. | In 60 years since the Nazi genocide of European Jews, Germany has become Israel's staunchest ally in Europe. |
| The agreement institutes annual meetings at prime ministerial, ministerial and cabinet levels. | The agreement institutes annual meetings at prime ministerial, ministerial and cabinet levels. |
| Germany already has similar agreements with France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Russia. It is Israel's first such agreement with another state. | Germany already has similar agreements with France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Russia. It is Israel's first such agreement with another state. |
| The visit focuses on Israeli-German ties, rather than the Palestinian question, but Mrs Merkel reiterated German support for a two-state solution at an arrival ceremony at Tel Aviv airport. | The visit focuses on Israeli-German ties, rather than the Palestinian question, but Mrs Merkel reiterated German support for a two-state solution at an arrival ceremony at Tel Aviv airport. |
| Her government said last week that it would host an international conference to help the Palestinians prepare for statehood, and she spoke to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas by telephone before leaving Germany. | Her government said last week that it would host an international conference to help the Palestinians prepare for statehood, and she spoke to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas by telephone before leaving Germany. |