'Germany became the first foreign government with representatives in the Palestinian self-rule area, when in August it sent two officials to Jericho to set up an office to coordinate technical and economic assistance to the Palestinian governments. According to German sources, this assistance will be for the establishing of a Palestinian police force and in the training of jounalists and administrators.

'While on a state visit to Germany, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that Israel would not oppose Germany obtaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council which is being urged by the United States. Peres said that the world wants to see Germany 'engaging herself' in international problems, including having GERMAN TROOPS participating in whatever U.N. peacekeeping missions occur in the Middle East in years to come.

'Within days of the opening of Germany's Jericho office, plans for similar diplomatic missions were announced by other European countries, including Greece and the Netherlands. Soon thereafter, it was announced that a Dutch-led European consortium will build a $60 million floating harbor for the Palestinian self-rule authorities in the GAZA STRIP.'

-- Twentieth Century Watch, October 1994.