Merkel, who arrived at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, also expressed commitments to help resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

However, Merkel will not meet with Palestinian leaders during her visit. German Embassy spokesman Albert Graf said Merkel's visit was exclusively to Israel because it was designed to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel's foundation.

On Tuesday, Merkel is to address Israel's Knesset (parliament) in German, the first by a German chancellor, local media said.

But such a plan has angered some Israeli lawmakers because of the painful memories of the Holocaust, media reports said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2008)