Germany, Qatar call for continuation of Mideast peace talks, stress need to compromise

Germany, Qatar urge continuing Mideast peace talks

BERLIN — Germany’s chancellor and the ruler of Qatar have called on Israelis and Palestinians to press forward with the Mideast peace talks.

Angela Merkel and Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani stressed at a joint news conference on Wednesday that a continuation of the Mideast peace process was in everybody’s interest.

Merkel urged both sides to show a “willingness to compromise.”

Al Thani, speaking through a translator, said the peace talks should be continued and appealed to Israel to show “the wisdom to support a Palestinian state.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently threatened to withdraw from the newly launched U.S. brokered negotiations if Israel resumes building in the West Bank settlements.

While in Berlin Al Thani also met with German President Christian Wulff.