German FM to visit West Bank next Sunday to warn against Statehood Bid

German ministry sources announced here on Thursday that German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, is expected to visit the Middle East region on Sunday to warn of trouble ahead if the Palestinians press demands for United Nations recognition as a state. During the visit, Westerwelle is set to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman during the visit lasting into Monday. He would explore ways to avoid negative effects on the Mideast peace process, the sources said. They added that other European Union nations had been consulted about the trip. For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly urged the Palestinians to call off their plan to seek UN recognition when the UN General Assembly meets in two weeks, because it would infuriate Israel and put peace contacts on ice. Other EU nations have been more open to the proposal. Palestinian activists asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to accept Palestine as a full member state of the world body in a letter Thursday.