German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with the Palestinian finance minister Saturday, in a small gesture toward the new Palestinian unity government. Steinmeier is set to hold talks with three Palestinian Cabinet ministers Saturday, in addition to President Mahmoud Abbas. Steinmeier arrived in the region Friday and spent the night in Bethlehem, the Associated Press reported. Palestinian officials said they would urge Steinmeier to end international sanctions imposed on their government last year, when Hamas rose to power. «We will tell the German visitor we need to break the siege,» said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
