BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Jerusalem yesterday. The two leaders discussed the situation in Egypt, Iran’s nuclear programme and the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. In a press conference with the German chancellor, Netanyahu said that Israel’s principle policy towards the protests in Egypt is to preserve the three decade old peace treaty. “More than 30 years ago there was a major change in our region,” Netanyahu said. “The biggest Arab state, the one that led wars against Israel, made peace with us, and that created a new space in the region, for us and for Egypt.” Netanyahu also warned that extreme Islamic elements could take advantage of the uprising in Egypt and gain more political control, just like what happened in Iran in 1979.

Merkel added that Western countries had always expressed their demands to President Hosni Mubarak to open dialogue on human rights, the right to vote and freedom of expression in Egypt. “These are public assets and rights which are important in our eyes, and which every nation needs to adopt,” Merkel said.

In the latest developments in Egypt, protestors plan to continue marches across the country as demonstrations go into their eighth day of activity. The army announced it will not use force against the demonstrators, while anti-government groups have called for a million man march to take place on the streets today. Meanwhile, newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman announced on state TV that he will begin dialogue with all political parties to start implementing constitutional and legislative reforms.