German foreign minister: Mideast peace pact 'a bit closer'

A peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians is now “a bit closer,” Germany’s foreign minister said today, calling on the international community to keep the momentum going by providing as much support as possible.

“I think there’s a true chance, and the American government is determined to engage itself more. There’s a big chance that a two-state solution, of which we’ve talked for a long time, can now come a bit closer,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters after addressing the Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.