Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received German support Wednesday for his efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle saying direct talks were the best way, according to dpa. Abbas was set to meet on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He had visited Britain on Monday. While in Berlin, Abbas had a working lunch with German President Christian Wulff after being welcomed with a military guard of honour outside Bellevue Palace, the presidential home. Aides to Abbas described the lunch as a "positive gesture" by Germany. Westerwelle counselled Abbas not to drop contacts with Israel and said Berlin believed direct talks were the best way to achieve a comprehensive and just two-state solution, adding that both sides must avoid "provocative, unilateral acts." The German minister said continued Jewish settlement construction undermined efforts for a long-term solution.
