Germany: Israeli president 'optimistic' for Trump's peace proposal

W/S Holocaust Commemoration session at Bundestag, Berlin
M/S Parliamentarians
SOT, Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel (Hebrew): "Other conflicts in the world have been solved, however. And I believe that this conflict can be ended. Yesterday evening in Washington we saw some moments which gave us cause for hope. After so many years of lack of progress in terms of peace policy Mr Trump has now made a proposal that could reopen negotiation channels. And which perhaps could set out a plan for a new vision, a shared vision of a new future for us and the Palestinians. But this is not easy, of course. Both sides need to study this programme, this plan in detail. It is a plan which makes great concessions that are painful and difficult for both sides. But we must not give up because those who give up miss the opportunity."
M/S Parliamentarians applauding *CUTAWAY*
M/S AfD Chairpersons Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel (Hebrew): "Both sides have of course their own anxieties and fears and also their own hopes. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties we face, we must talk about solutions that would be good for our security and our stability, and also will allow economic growth for both sides. I am optimistic and I hope this plan will be implemented."
W/S Holocaust Commemoration session *CUTAWAY*
M/S German Chancellor Angela Merkel *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German President (German): "My concern is that nowadays we understand the past better than the present. We thought that the evils of the past will varnish with time. But no, the evils of the past are raising their ugly heads again in a new guise. Moreover, they are presenting their ethno-centric and authoritarian ideas as a vision for the future. As the better answers to the open questions of our time. Ladies and gentlemen, I feel we were not sufficiently prepared for this. But this is the very test we face in this world and we must pass this test. We owe that to our responsibility to the past, the victims and the survivors."
M/S Parliamentarians
W/S Parliamentarians applauding
W/S Merkel, Steinmeier and other officials leaving
SCRIPT
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin expressed hope that Donald Trump's Middle East 'peace plan' could reopen negotiations and set "a shared vision of a new future" both for Israel and Palestine.
Speaking at Holocaust Commemoration session at Bundestag on Wednesday, Rivlin said: "It is a plan which makes great concessions that are painful and difficult for both sides. But we must not give up because those who give up miss the opportunity."
He continued: "Despite the difficulties we face, we must talk about solutions that would be good for our security and our stability, and also will allow economic growth for both sides. I am optimistic and I hope this plan will be implemented."
US President Donald Trump detailed his 'deal of the century', a set of proposals to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC on Tuesday.
Under the plan put forth, "Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital".
Palestine cut ties with the US after Washington recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital more than two years ago.