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Israel, Germany discuss Mideast peace
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-02-2007 08:41
Special Report: Mideast Peace Conference
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Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) shakes hands with Germany's Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung during their meeting in Tel Aviv November 1, 2007 in this picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO). REUTERS/Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/Handout
Germany's Foreign Minister also met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. This in another effort to boost talks between Israel and the Palestinians. At the same time, violence flared again in Gaza as Israeli forces clash with Palestinian gunmen. Here's Liu Yanhua.
During Thursday's meeting, Steinmeier presented Olmert an EU plan for boosting US-led Mideast peace efforts.
Under the plan, the EU will try to strengthen small and mid-sized Palestinian businesses, West Bank universities, the police and other institutions.
Israel and the Palestinians are trying to write a joint document addressing core issues of their conflict ahead of a US-sponsored Mideast peace conference later this year.
Israel has tried to dispel reports the country is stalling on the conference agenda.
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Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) and Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier pose together during their meeting in Tel Aviv November 1, 2007 in this picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office
Tzipi Livni, Israeli Foreign Minister, said, "I really hope the Palestinians understand the Israelis are not looking for delays along the way but to fulfill the timetable according to the necessary steps."
Also on Thursday, German Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung met Olmert and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to discuss military cooperation between Israel and Germany.
As they met, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian militants again in southern and northern Gaza, wounding several gunmen.
Israeli military have released aerial videos which it claims features gunmen firing mortars from a Gaza elementary school. It says militants used populated areas as human shields to conduct operations, which Palestinian militant groups deny.
Editor:Zhang Pengfei
