(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-10 16:58

Israel stance

Olmert said last month Israel would not be reconciled to a nuclear Iran and "all options are on the table."

On Wednesday, diplomats said Iran was testing an advanced centrifuge at its Natanz nuclear complex, a move that could lead to Tehran enriching uranium much faster and gaining the means to build atom bombs.

Iran says it wants nuclear energy only for electricity so it can export more oil. But it is under sanctions for hiding the program until 2003, preventing UN inspectors since then from verifying it is wholly peaceful and refusing to suspend it.

During his Berlin talks, Olmert will brief Merkel on peace negotiations he opened with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after a US-led conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November.

"Germany and the European Union will do everything in their power to support the peace process ... Our goal is that a secure and stable Israel and a Palestinian state can live as neighbors in the region in peace and freedom," Merkel said on Saturday.

President George W. Bush has voiced confidence a Palestinian statehood deal would be reached before he leaves office in January, but Israeli and Palestinian leaders have publicly expressed doubts the target date could be met.

The Israeli official said Olmert's visit to Berlin would help to strengthen an "already excellent relationship" with Germany and build on Israel's "remarkable improvement" in ties with the European Union over the past five years.

German officials said Merkel was keen to strengthen bilateral ties and that the talks with Olmert would prepare the ground for wider government consultations due to take place in Israel in March.

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