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Calmy-Rey holds talks with Israel’s Meridor

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Friday discussed the Middle East peace process and bilateral issues with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor.

The meeting, which was reported on Saturday, was held in Geneva.

The Swiss foreign ministry refused to provide further details and did not say whether Israel’s plans to build 1,600 new settlement homes in occupied East Jerusalem came up.

Switzerland had said immediately after the announcement it was “extremely concerned” with the plan, which increased tensions between Israel and the United States.

The foreign ministry said earlier in March the settlement projects would infringe on international law.

There are roughly 15,000 Swiss citizens in Israel and the country is Switzerland’s most important export market in the Middle East and North Africa.

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