German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Jacques Grießmayer.

JNS.org – German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced one week before her country’s upcoming federal elections that “Germany’s support for Israel’s security is part of our national ethos, our raison d’etre.”

Although Merkel acknowledged that she has often made critical comments about Israeli construction in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem, she said, “It’s equally important to me that the two sides, both Israel and the Palestinians, work towards a durable peace settlement, that’s to say a viable two-state solution. And I will support every step taken by an Israeli Government to make such talks possible.”

Merkel made the comments in an interview with the Jewish Voice from Germany. She spoke highly of German-Israeli relations. “Some years ago we initiated German-Israeli intergovernmental consultations… Israel is still the only true democracy in the Middle East. We want to work together as closely as possible in all spheres and can be proud of our cooperation in culture, science or environmental protection,” Merkel said.