Relations between Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Netanyahu have
rarely been as bad as they are now, Der Spiegel reports. Merkel is upset because she
believes that Netanyahu isn't doing anything to move forward the peace process
with the Palestinians. Netanyahu, in turn, thinks that Merkel doesn't
sufficiently understand the complicated situation his government is in.
"The chancellor was particularly annoyed because Netanyahu had shown himself completely unwilling to make concessions. On several occasions, Merkel had urged him to at least make a gesture on the issue of settlement construction in order to send out a signal to the Palestinians. Doing so would have made it easier for Merkel to campaign for the Israeli position. But Netanyahu stubbornly ignored her wish."
