Abbas: Due to Holocaust, PA won’t ask Germany to pressure Israel

Aware of Germany’s commitment to Israel in light of the Holocaust, the Palestinians will not ask Berlin to abandon its traditionally pro-Israel position, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on the eve of a visit to the German capital.

“We know history. We will not demand that Germany put more pressure on Israel,” Abbas told Der Spiegel, Germany’s leading newsmagazine. However, he noted that Berlin supports Palestinian statehood and called upon Chancellor Angela Merkel to “use her good friendship with Israel to promote peace.” .... http://www.timesofisrael.com

Abbas seeks Berlin backing for UN vote on Israeli settlements

Berlin/Brussels (dpa) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas‘ call for an end to Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank so as to reactivate the stalled Middle East peace talks.

Abbas‘ talks with German leaders in Berlin formed part of his international tour aimed at securing support for a United Nations‘ vote to condemn the Israeli settlement policy and to call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease the policy.

"I am critical of the settlement policy," said Merkel at a joint press conference with Abbas .... http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu