After Germany's abstention at UN vote, Chancellor Merkel reassures Israel of her country's commitment to its security
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                  After Germany's abstention at UN vote, Chancellor Merkel reassures Israel of her country's commitment to its security

                  ''Germany will always stand on the side of Israel on the issue of Israel’s security," Merkel said in her weekly podcast. She also spoke of Berlin's vocal backing for Israel during its latest clashes with Hamas.

                  After Germany's abstention at UN vote, Chancellor Merkel reassures Israel of her country's commitment to its security

                  03.12.2012, Israel and the World

                  Two days after abstaining in the UN General Assembly vote on a Palestinian upgraded status, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reassured Israel of her country's commitment to the security of the Jewish state.
                  Germany is traditionally one of Israel’s staunchest allies in Europe but although it was expected to vote against the Palestinian UN bid and join the US and Canada, it abstained like 11 other EU member states despite her country’s vote last year against a Palestinian membership at UNESCO.
                  Ahead of Friday’s vote, Germany had cited fears the resolution would complicate the peace process as a reason for its abstention. "On the one hand we see the Palestinians' justified desire for their own state, but on the other hand we recognize our special responsibility to Israel, and for peaceful and stable development in the region," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday.
                  "Germany will always stand on the side of Israel on the issue of Israel’s security," Merkel said in her weekly podcast. She also spoke of Berlin's vocal backing for Israel during its latest clashes with Hamas.
                  "Israel has not only the right but the duty to protect its citizens," she added.
                  She reiterated Berlin's support for a two-state solution in the Middle East and urged a speedy resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
                  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several of his ministers will hold consultations with their German counterparts in Berlin next Thursday as part of the annual joint cabinet meeting.
                  Their talks will cover economic and trade ties, and cooperation in science and education as well as regional security issues.
                  Chancellor Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, says the German leader will have dinner with Netanyahu on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
                  In Europe, only the Czech Republic voted against the resolution while many countries including France and Italy backed it.
                  On his way to Germany, Netanyahu will stop in Prague to meet his Czech counterpart Petr Necas to "thank him in person for standing up for truth and peace".

                  EJP