Germany to Israel: Don't strike Iran

Germany's foreign minister told Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Israel must not unilaterally strike Iranian nuclear facilities, an official said. The German official said Guido Westerwelle, meeting in Jerusalem with Netanyahu Sunday, cautioned that a unilateral strike could shatter the international coalition against Iran, Haaretz reported. German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave essentially the same message to Netanyahu two weeks ago in a telephone conversation. During his meeting with Westerwelle, Netanyahu repeated his own demand that the international community set "red lines" for Iran on its development of nuclear energy. Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Westerwelle to discuss Israeli concerns about a deal to sell two German submarines to the Egyptian navy. Before the meeting, Barak downplayed Israel's differences with Germany. "Our ties with Germany stretch back many years and are based on a basic belief in democracy, values and remembrance, and we deeply appreciate this friendship," he said.