President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke today as a part of their ongoing consultations and close partnership.  The Chancellor provided an update on her engagement in support of the President’s efforts to advance peace in the Middle East.  The two leaders emphasized their support for the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians and agreed that all sides should make every possible effort to sustain the talks.  The President and the Chancellor agreed that Israel should extend its moratorium on settlement activity and that the negotiations should press on until completed, and they agreed to stay in close touch at this critical juncture of the process.  They also discussed Afghanistan and agreed to consult further on these and other global issues on our shared agenda.