Berlin – Chancellor Angela Merkel is defending her frank talk with a Palestinian refugee that brought the girl to tears — and has found an ally in the 14-year-old herself.
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Merkel brought Reem Sahwil to tears Friday after the girl said her family had been waiting four years for permanent residence status. Merkel told her Germany can’t accommodate everyone, but outlined her government’s desire to speed up asylum applications.
On Sunday, Merkel said on ARD television it wouldn’t have been fair to other refugees if she’d said “because you’ve just met the chancellor, your fate will be resolved faster.”
Sahwil told Bild newspaper even though she cried, she appreciated the answer.
She says, “I would have been much more offended if she were not honest. I like honest people like Ms. Merkel.”