Merkel's Israel visit gets mixed press

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The visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Israel, during which she said that Germany was "a loyal partner and friend", is greeted with enthusiasm and admiration in the Israeli press.

Commentators stress that Germany has become Israel's "best friend" after the United States, and that Merkel feels a deep responsibility towards the Israelis.

By contrast, Arab dailies are deeply disappointed, with one Syrian writer saying her comments about the security links between the two countries were tantamount to "submission to Israeli extortion".

TOM SEGEV IN ISRAEL'S HAARETZ

Chancellor Merkel's joint session with Olmert's government was a show of complete and unequivocal support for its policies. Threatening Israel's existence is akin to threatening Germany's, Merkel said during her visit. Even US politicians have never made such a statement... One of her insiders equated her stance on Israel to that of a convert embracing a new set of beliefs.

SHEVAH WEISS IN ISRAEL'S MAARIV

Almost every sentence in her speech contained a commitment to remember the past and to Israel's security in the future... What we have here is a most important speech. In contrast, the speeches of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik and opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu were political and sentimental and this is right - the whole German-Jewish issue stirs memories of horrible grief.

ISRAEL'S HAARETZ

Germany is currently Israel's best friend in Europe, and perhaps even in the world, apart from the United States... Merkel herself has a special relationship with Israel. She feels a deep responsibility toward Israel, both because of the Holocaust and because of the actions of East Germany in which she grew up, whose hostility toward Israel was exceptional even by Soviet-bloc standards.

YOSEF HARIF IN ISRAEL'S MAARIV

Merkel would be wise if she exploits the visit in order to get to know the essence of the conflict at close quarters and pass on to her colleagues in Europe her impressions of the sincerity of Israel's intentions to act for peace.

PALESTINIAN AL-QUDS

The Palestinians undoubtedly value the generous aid pledged by Germany to support the Palestinian economy and public institutions. However, the German voice should be as loud as the size of this aid. Germany should support Palestinian rights and in this context<i>,</i> the statement made by Chancellor Merkel in which she said that settlement activity is an obstacle in the way of peace represents a positive starting point.

ALI NASR-ALLAH IN SYRIA'S AL-THAWRAH

German Chancellor Angela Merkel went so far in praising Israel. She did not stop at stressing the special responsibility which she said her country shoulders towards Israel; rather, she went on to link Germany's security to that of Israel. Merkel's statements represent nothing more than submission to Israeli extortion.

TAHIR AL-IDWAN IN JORDAN'S AL-ARAB AL-YAWM

We are very disappointed with Merkel's visit to Israel at this time in particular, as it comes a few weeks after the Israeli "holocaust" in the Gaza Strip and when Israelis are celebrating the 60th anniversary of establishing the Zionist entity... Germany pursued a balanced role towards the Palestinian cause in recent years. Merkel's visit, however, erases this role.

QATAR'S AL-WATAN

Chancellor Merkel entered history as the first German leader to embrace Israel completely and make a multi-sided strategic alliance with it... It is regrettable that this direction will make many Arabs and Muslims feel dislike, and maybe even hatred towards Germany... Germany is no longer just the foremost European trade partner of Israel but has become the foremost political and strategic partner for Israel directly after the US.

<a href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk"> BBC Monitoring</a><i>selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.</i>