German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Photo: wiki commons.

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Friday, German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle said that there should be no delay in the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and that his country “will do what we can to support the security and a peaceful and sustainable development for Israel and the whole region.”

Westerwelle added that Germany “fully supports the latest initiative by our US partners for direct talks” and noted that “these are very challenging times, for the whole region but especially of course for our friends in Israel.”

Netanyahu noted that “Today the Middle East is undergoing a period of tremendous and unprecedented instability. We have not seen such an upheaval in this region for many decades.”

He added: “I follow closely the very real challenges that this rapidly changing situation poses for the security of Israel. I will travel to where ever needed; I will meet with whoever is needed and I’m doing whatever is needed to protect the security of the citizens of Israel, and I will continue to do so.”

In a separate meeting Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni told Westerwelle that a US bid to restart Israel-Palestinian Authority  peace talks should be regarded by all sides with “enthusiasm.”

During the meeting Livni also slammed Russia after reports emerged that it planned to go through with the sale of advanced weapons to Syria.

“The transfer of arms to Syria is clearly not positive and does not contribute to the stability of the region,” she said.

“Israel has the right to defend itself,” Livni added.