By IRNA,
Berlin : The German government on Wednesday has stepped up pressure on the western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA) to start direct talks with Israel.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters in Berlin it was time for both sides “to enter into direct peace talks.”
Westerwelle stressed the need to convince both camps to return to direct negotiations.
The PA has so far insisted on seeing some “progress” from the Israeli side before moving to direct talks.
It has also urged a total stop to settlement activities in the occupied territories before negotiations could begin.
Berlin has been downbeat on chances for a two-state solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed strong scepticism last month on prospects
for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Merkel acknowledged it would be “very very difficult” to have a two-state solution in the Mideast.
The German leader stressed she was “not very satisfied” with the latest developments in the Middle East peace process.
She reiterated there was “no other reasonable alternative” to a two-state settlement of the Palestinan-Israeli conflict.
The chancellor pointed out Israeli settlements and the Palestinian refugee crisis remained “the most serious problems” in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.
She called on both parties to seek a compromise in the conflict, saying Palestinians and Israelis had yet to overcome major hurdles.