Last update - 00:00 18/03/2008
Merkel: We'll do our best to bring kidnapped soldiers back
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
German Chancellor Angela Merkel started her planned Knesset visit Tuesday at an opening lunch hosted by Speaker Dalia Itzik in the Chagall Hall of the Knesset, where she vowed the Germany will do its best to bring back the IDF kidnapped soldiers.
Merkel is due to speak to the Knesset plenum in the late afternoon on Tuesday.
"We want to help Israel solve its difficult problems," Merkel said in an opening speech, "we will do our best to help bring back [IDF] captives home and we'll do our best to contribute to the peace process."
Merkel also spoke about the cooperation between Israel and Germany, her visit on Monday to Yad Vashem, and the joint meeting between the two governments.
She maintained that the opportunity to speak in front of the MKs in the plenum is a great honor. "The cooperation and friendship between Israel and Germany is part of history's miracles and this must provide us with energy to overcome even the toughest problems," Merkel said.
Earlier Tuesday, Merkel met with President Shimon Peres, and the two agreed that only a serious investment in the Palestinian economy could advance the peace process.
Peres showed Merkel his 'peace valley' plan which includes a German-funded industrial zone in Jenin. Merkel said that Germany intends to donate 10 million euros to fund the project.
"Only the improvement of the quality of life, education and infrastructure can push peace forward, as opposed to the supply of guns or donations which only exacerbates the corruption in the Palestinian Authority," Peres said.
Merkel thanked Peres for giving her a personal tour of Sde Boker and said that she was excited about sitting with her ministers in a joint meeting with the Israeli government.
She added that Germany is interested in taking an active part in the economic cooperation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians and she intends to personally supervise the establishment of the industrial zone in Jenin.
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