Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Sunday, that the two countries' understanding of the importance of a future of peace and prosperity for Israel "understanding of the importance of ensuring that we secure a future of peace and prosperity for Israel. This means, obviously, the creation of a Jewish state, of an army capable of defending ourselves with soldiers who are courageous and commanders who are equally courageous, with moral standards second-to-none." He was referring to criticism of the Israel Defense Forces by the Breaking the Silence and B'Tselem groups, with whom German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met recently.
Noting praise on the Facebook page of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction for the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics as heroic, Netanyahu said "It wasn’t – and praising it is not a heroic act and it goes against the possibilities of peace." He continued, "What we’d like to see is a change and the change would come from international demand for accountability from the Palestinian Authority, and ask them to back their words outside with words inside. That is: Teach their children peace. Peace is what we seek and peace is what we hope we can get with your help and the help of other leaders who will ask such a change of heart that is so important for our common future."