(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 17 - Chancellor Angela Merkel overheard Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone and assured the "solidarity of the federal government" with Israel regarding the current conflict in the region. This was reported by government spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement. "The Chancellor returns to severely condemn the continuation of the missile attacks from Gaza to Israel and assures the Prime Minister the solidarity of the federal government", reads the statement. The chancellor "reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself from attacks", but expressed her hope "for an end to the conflicts as soon as possible, in the face of the loss of many civilians on both sides". Finally Merkel remembered that the government "will take further decisions against protests in Germany that spread hatred and anti-Semitism. "
(HANDLE).