PM Netanyahu Meets with German Foreign Minister Westerwelle

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Friday, 17 May 2013), in
Jerusalem, met with German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westrwelle.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting: "It is always a
pleasure to host you here in Jerusalem. You are a friend of Israel,
Chancellor Merkel is a friend of Israel, Germany is a friend of Israel.
Today the Middle East is undergoing a period of tremendous and unprecedented
instability. We have not seen such an upheaval in this region for many
decades. I follow closely, day and night, the rapidly changing situation
around us. I follow closely the very real challenges that this rapidly
changing situation poses for the security of Israel. I will travel to where
ever needed; I will meet with whoever is needed and I'm doing whatever is
needed to protect the security of the citizens of Israel, and I will
continue to do so."

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle said: "It is really a great pleasure to
be here once again, but we all know that these are very challenging times,
for the whole region but especially of course for our friends in Israel. I
want to underline that in these challenging times Germany stands by its
Israel partners. We want to work together and we want to support you. This
is what our friendship is about and I'm using the word friendship, which is
from our understanding, more than a partnership. This is not only a
strategic alliance; this is a friendship between societies, between peoples
and between governments. Germany fully supports the latest initiative by our
US partners for direct talks. We believe that the Middle East peace process
and the work on a two-state solution should be revived now and we will do
what we can to support the security and a peaceful and sustainable
development for Israel and the whole region."