We're saying this to both countries: We want a two-state solution. We want a Jewish state of Israel and alongside a independent Palestinian state. Unilateral measures are not helping at all to bring about this cause, and we agree that we wish to cooperate very closely on this, because as we both say, time is of the essence.

Merkel is known to dislike dogs. This project has been described as ultra-liberal by the French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon fearing a transfer of sovereignty from citizens to multinationals and an alignment of the European Union on the American foreign policy and institutions. This has added to a growing debate within Germany on the levels of immigration its effect on Germany and the degree to which Muslim immigrants have integrated into German society.

Merkel is seen as playing a crucial role in managing the financial crisis at the European and international level and has been referred to as "the decider. One of her priorities was also to strengthen transatlantic economic relations by signing the agreement for the Transatlantic Economic Council on 30 April 2007. Following reunification in 1990 Angela Merkel was elected to the Bundestag where Angela Merkel has represented a constituency in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since.