(7 Apr 2011) SHOTLIST
1. Mid of German, European and Israeli flags waving in front of German Chancellery, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the country
2. Mid of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving for a news conference
3. Cutaway press
4. SOUNDBITE: (German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:
"I think, and this is a common belief, that progress is needed in that region (Middle East) and now it is more urgent than ever. The standstill needs to be overcome and the aim must be a two state solution."
5. Mid of Merkel and Netanyahu
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
"As we watch with hope and concern the great revolutions that are taking place around us, we have to remember what Chancellor Merkel just said: that this turbulence began not in Tunis, but in Tehran a year and a half ago. And it doesn't make any sense, and it's not just that Iran and its proxies would be immune to the pressures for democratisation, change and reform."
7. Cutaway press
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
"Every effort should be made to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Because our hopes for change in the region, for positive change in the region would be fatally shot down if Iran remains immune, develops nuclear weapons and begins to subvert all movements towards modernity and democracy in the rest of the Middle East. So, for the sake of peace, for the sake of security and for the sake of stability, we'll work together on trying to re-engage the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."
9. Wide of news conference
10. Mid of Merkel and Netanyahu leaving news conference
11. Mid of Merkel and Netanyahu walking
STORYLINE:
Germany's chancellor told Israel's prime minister on Thursday that overcoming the stalemate in the Middle East peace process "is more urgent than ever" given the current regional turmoil.
Talks have to resume and progress must be made to ensure the viable and peaceful coexistence of Israel and a future Palestinian state, Angela Merkel said after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said his government is determined to "re-engage, renew the negotiations" with the Palestinians, but cannot make concessions on the country's security.
Merkel stressed that the stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations has to be overcome as the political landscape in the region rapidly changes.
Netanyahu and Merkel also stressed the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and Merkel condemned Tehran's oppression of pro-democracy advocates.
The Israeli Prime Minister said it was far from certain how the upheaval in the Arab world would play out and added that these "great revolutions" started in Tehran, in 2009.
"This turbulence began not in Tunis, but in Tehran a year and a half ago. And it doesn't make any sense, and it's not just that Iran and its proxies would be immune to the pressures for democratisation, change and reform," he said.
Israeli officials on Wednesday expressed concern that Germany, France and Britain will push later this month for the "Quartet" of Mideast peacemakers, the European
Union, the United Nations, Russia and the United States, to endorse the principle of a future Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, which would include virtually
all of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
But, asked about that, Merkel did not mention the pre-1967 borders.
Israeli-occupied lands they want for their state.
incentive for them to restart talks.
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