Germany is maintaining its humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and remains committed to a "negotiated two-state solution" to settle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

After a meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abbas, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also named differences.

He said the federal government does not support the Palestinian initiative to obtain full state recognition from the United Nations.

The Palestinian autonomy enjoys observer status at the UN;

it was "now not the time to change this status".

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Scholz also urged the Palestinian side to live up to their announcement that elections would be held.

Referring to the last election held in 2006, he said it was "a bit long ago" and that "there could be re-elections."

Abbas had renewed the condition that there would be elections if they could also take place in the eastern part of Jerusalem.

The Chancellor also contradicted Abbas' apartheid statements.

Scholz said he expressly did not adopt this judgment;

this is not the position of the federal government.

Abbas had previously stated that Israel was using the methods of an apartheid system towards the Palestinian people.

It is not ready to accept the principle of a one-state solution with equal rights for all.

Abbas also thanked Germany for the humanitarian and political support;

Berlin plays a "key role in the region and worldwide," he said.

Abbas also emphasized Germany's involvement in the so-called "Munich Format", in which Germany is working together with France, Egypt and Jordan to make progress in the peace process.

Germany will continue its commitment

However, the situation in Israel, whose government is about to hold another parliamentary election, and the latest political initiatives by American President Joe Biden in the region have prevented any constructive movement in recent months.

Biden had supported efforts to improve relations between Israel and the Arab Gulf States.

Abbas said in Berlin that Biden had also announced a Middle East peace initiative, but: "We are still waiting for these words to be followed by deeds."

According to the Chancellor, however, the German position in the Middle East conflict is characterized by “a high degree of continuity”.

Germany is critical of Israel's settlement policy on Palestinian territory: "It will continue to be the case in the future." The federal government also holds to the view that the conflict can only be ended via a "negotiated two-state solution".

Germany will act as a "reliable partner" and will continue its "commitment to the Palestinians unchanged".