German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seize the chance to make a conciliatory offer to the Palestinians, her spokesman said in Berlin Friday, while denying reports of rancour in their conversation, dpa reported
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz had earlier quoted a "senior German source" saying the Monday conversation between the two was "extremely tense and included mutual accusations and harsh statements."
Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert confirmed Netanyahu had phoned Merkel, but dismissed the claim it was a harsh exchange: "That's certainly not the chancellor's style."
He said she told Netanyahu he would be throwing away his chance if, in the middle of the current turbulence, he did not become more accommodating to the Palestinians.
Haaretz quoted him replying he wanted to wait another two weeks before outlining a stance on peace.
Seibert said Merkel reiterated her standing criticism of the current standstill in peace negotiations