Diplomacy: Germany: Merkel receives Netanyahu, they warn Iran, she pressures him Jewish sttlmnts outside state of Israel

I think the bigger issue (see below) is not the issue of Jewish settlements outside the territory of the State Israel. The largest is a sizeable town with 40,000 residents.

Imho, what's bigger is: during the visit of Israel's Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to Berlin, Germany, to meet with the chief state authority in that country, chancellor Angela Merkel (Christian Democratic Union) -- they joined Jew and Christian to warn Iran about its nukes program; they warned with apparen definitiveness, pronouncing a deadline of sometime in Sept2k9.

Just the mere juxtaposition of "Jew and Christian" over against Iran's distinctively Islamic theocracy-monitored "big-votes democracy," such juxtaposition underscores the historic and currentday Muslim Shiite national sect dominating all of Iranian life by means of control of the Iranian Muslim Shiite state. Germany (Christain leader), Israel (Jewish leader), Iran (Shiite extreme apocalyptic maniac-ideologue).

To contextualize the international diplomatic situation, the writers mention Prez Obama' earlier warning to Iran, and then they cite Merkel's deadline:

US President Barack Obama has warned that harsher penalties could be imposed on Iran if it does not take up an offer of talks on trade benefits in exchange for shelving its nuclear programme.

"If there is no positive answer by September we will have to consider further measures," said Mrs Merkel.

Speaking at a press conference after their talks, Mr Netanyahu called for "crippling sanctions" against Iran to stop its disputed nuclear programme.

"It is possible to put real pressure, real economic pressure, on this regime if the major powers of the world unite," he said.

Gwen Ackermann and Tony Czuczka, writing for Bloomberg.com (Aug30,2k9), "Merkel, Netanyahu warn Iran of Sanctions in Nuclear Dispute" --

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Iran that it could face energy sanctions if it doesn’t halt its nuclear program and pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Merkel, speaking at a joint news conference with Netanyahu in Berlin today, said the world is heading toward a September deadline for Iran to cooperate with demands to stop enriching uranium. Netanyahu called for the threat of “crippling sanctions” and Merkel said “we reject” a nuclear-armed Iran.

The U.S., France, the U.K. and Germany have been pressing Iran to drop its uranium enrichment program in return for help in developing civil nuclear power. Together with China and Russia, which both hold vetoes at the United Nations Security Council, they have voted through three rounds of sanctions in an attempt to penalize Iran for breaking its commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The initial 4 countries above are now, thru Merkel, also linked to Netanyahu and the survival of Israel's population. Merkel and Netanyahu are linked thru this visit in a deep way, involving Germany's repentance. So, the two leaders on this one issue of stopping Iran's "nuclear ambitions" in all their ambiguities, stand together.

The wiley Merkel, without Netanyahu's endorsement, wove around the agreement on Iran a wreath of statements against Jewish settlements outside the territory of the Jewish state of Israel in territories conquered in a defensive war against Arab Muslim states ready to league-up militarily to execute a 2nd Holocaust in 1967. See "Merkel warns Iran on sanctions" (Aug27,2k9, BBC)

'Getting closer'

On the settlement issue, Mrs Merkel said a freeze in construction would push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

"Progress on the issue of settlements - a freeze on settlements - is an important building block and a prerequisite for a restart of the Middle East peace process," said Mrs Merkel.

After Wednesday's talks in London, the Israeli prime minister said the US and Israel were "getting closer" to a "bridging formula" on the settlement issue, according to his spokesman.

The US wants Israel to comply with Palestinian demands that it halt all building before peace talks can start.

The Palestinians have refused to resume peace negotiations unless Israel stops all settlement building.

Chancellor Merkel has shown herself a staunch supporter of Israel and received a standing ovation in parliament last year when she pledged that her country would stand by Israel's side against any threat.

But, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin, she is ready to criticise when she sees fit. >

-- Politicarp