Yuksel Serdar Oguz
14 January 2014•Update: 21 March 2016
RAMALLAH
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday said that he is encouraged by the ongoing round of Middle East peace talks.
"We have high hopes that this time it will be possible to lay the foundations for a two-state solution...the chances seem better than in the past," he said.
Steinmeier, a veteran of Middle East peace negotiations, met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and later held a joint press meeting with Palestinian lead negotiator Sa’eb Ureikat.
"Israel's bids for new settlements is disrupting the peace process," Steinmeier said. He indicated that he would discuss the issue with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, later on Monday.
Israel announced on January 10 plans to build 1,400 new settlement homes in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank
"We support US efforts to reach a peaceful solution...important steps can be taken during this round of negotiations," Steinmeier said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, while at a peace conference in Paris, reiterated on Sunday that talks must continue. “It’s very hard to overstate the importance of the countries that are taking part in this effort to bring the Arab world to the table with a simple message, that we are prepared to make peace in 2014.”
Palestinian Negotiator Ureikat condemned Israel's plan to build settlements, but praised Germany's efforts to continue with the negotiations. "Germany and the international community must be involved in the issue to stop Israel's new settlements," Ureikat said.
The ongoing round of peace talks began in July 2013. The deadline to find a framework for a future agreement has been set for April.
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