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Israel PM to meet German leader Israeli PM meets Germany's Merkel
(about 3 hours later)
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Berlin for talks with the German chancellor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Berlin for talks with the German chancellor.
Angela Merkel is expected to call on the Israeli leader to freeze construction of West Bank settlements.Angela Merkel is expected to call on the Israeli leader to freeze construction of West Bank settlements.
The visit comes a day after talks in London with a US Middle East envoy after which he suggested Israel was close to an agreement on settlements. His visit comes a day after talks in London with a US Middle East envoy, after which he suggested Israel was close to an agreement on settlements.
Mr Netanyahu is also expected to be given original blueprints of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. Mr Netanyahu has also been given original blueprints of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.
The presentation will be made during a visit to a villa from where senior Nazis planned the extermination of the Jews.
He will be the first Israeli prime minister to visit since the site, on Lake Wannsee on the outskirts of the capital, was opened.
The plans, which date from 1941-2, were found in a Berlin flat last year and include technical drawings for a gas chamber and crematorium - a symbol of the difficult history which connects Germany with the Jewish state created after the Nazi Holocaust.The plans, which date from 1941-2, were found in a Berlin flat last year and include technical drawings for a gas chamber and crematorium - a symbol of the difficult history which connects Germany with the Jewish state created after the Nazi Holocaust.
Mr Netanyahu was also due to visit a villa from where senior Nazis planned the extermination of the Jews.
He is the first Israeli prime minister to visit since the site, on Lake Wannsee on the outskirts of the capital, was opened.
TensionsTensions
After Wednesday's talks in London, the Israeli prime minister said the US and Israel were "getting closer" to a "bridging formula" on the settlement issue, according to his spokesman.After Wednesday's talks in London, the Israeli prime minister said the US and Israel were "getting closer" to a "bridging formula" on the settlement issue, according to his spokesman.
The US wants Israel to comply with Palestinian demands that it stop all building before peace talks can start. The US wants Israel to comply with Palestinian demands that it halt all building before peace talks can start.
The Palestinians have refused to resume peace negotiations unless Israel stops all settlement building.The Palestinians have refused to resume peace negotiations unless Israel stops all settlement building.
Chancellor Merkel has shown herself a staunch supporter of Israel and received a standing ovation in parliament last year when she pledged that her country would stand by Israel's side against any threat.Chancellor Merkel has shown herself a staunch supporter of Israel and received a standing ovation in parliament last year when she pledged that her country would stand by Israel's side against any threat.
But, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Berlin, she is ready to criticise when she sees fit. But, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin, she is ready to criticise when she sees fit.
Ahead of Mr Netanyahu's visit, the German government repeated its call on Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank. Ahead of Mr Netanyahu's visit, the German government repeated its call for Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank.
The meeting comes a week after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Germany was involved in efforts to secure the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit.
Sgt Shalit is due to mark his 23rd birthday - his fourth in captivity - on Friday, amid a wave of fresh speculation in the regional media about progress towards a deal.
Hamas wants several hundred Palestinan prisoners, including the popular and potentially unifying leader Marwan Barghouti, to be released by Israel in exchange for Sgt Shalit's freedom.
Germany has helped to negotiate Israeli-Lebanese prisoner swaps in the past.
There are tensions too, our correspondent adds, over Iran's economic relationship with Germany - the country's biggest trade partner in Europe.There are tensions too, our correspondent adds, over Iran's economic relationship with Germany - the country's biggest trade partner in Europe.
Israel suspects that makes Berlin reluctant to push for economic sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme. Israel suspects that that makes Berlin reluctant to push for economic sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme.