Federal Foreign Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle welcomed the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank will be frozen for the time being. He issued the following statement in Berlin today (26 November):

”This announcement is an important first step. It could bring movement into the settlement question. It is decisive that the parties now quickly find their way to direct negotiations.“

Federal Minister Westerwelle visited Israel and the Palestinian territories on 24 and 25 November and canvassed support for an equitable two-state solution. This includes progress on the settlement issue.