Olmert asks Merkel for backing over Iran - Haaretz

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Wed., February 13, 2008 Adar1 7, 5768

Israel Time: 02:30 (EST+7)

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Olmert asks Merkel for backing over Iran

By Barak Ravid

BERLIN - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel last night to discuss, among other Middle East issues, tougher sanctions against Iran to block its nuclear program. The meeting was still taking place at press time.

Olmert planned to show Merkel intelligence information regarding the Iranian nuclear program in order to persuade her to continue acting to bolster the sanctions against Iran, a senior government source said.

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The two leaders also planned to discuss German mediation efforts for a deal to secure the release of the two Israeli soldiers abducted by Hezbollah, Eldad Regev and Udi Goldwasser, as well as efforts to broker a deal for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The two were scheduled to hold a joint news conference after their meeting in Merkel's office. Olmert will also meet President Horst Koehler before returning to Israel today.

Earlier, Olmert met with leaders of the German Jewish community, who told him that they object to the establishment of a Nativ office in Germany.

Nativ, formally known as the Liaison Bureau, is an Israeli organization that maintained contact with Jews living in the Soviet bloc during the Cold War and encouraged immigration to Israel. Until now, it has never operated in any Western country, but Avigdor Lieberman, until recently minister for strategic affairs, with responsibility for Nativ, decided that it should start operations among Germany's 200,000 Jews, most of whom originate from the former Soviet Union.

Stephan Kramer, secretary general of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said that Jewish German leaders see no need for a new Israeli organization in Germany. The Jewish Agency, which has operated in Germany for decades, is sufficient, he said.

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