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Germany: Palestinian teen forgives Merkel gaffe

A PALESTINIAN teenager who was reduced to tears by Angela Merkel’s comments on immigration has apparently forgiven the heartless German chancellor.

Reem Sahwil told Ms Merkel at a community event in Rostock on Wednesday that her family was facing deportation to Lebanon after waiting four years for leave to remain.

The 14-year-old started crying after Ms Merkel told her that Germany had no room for her or other immigrants.

“In Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon there are thousands and thousands and if we say you can all come and you can all come from Africa … we can’t manage that,” she said.

Reem told ARD television yesterday that Ms Merkel had “listened to me and she also told me what she thinks about it and I think that’s OK.”

A video of the encounter, which had over 400,000 views on the government’s Facebook page, showed Ms Merkel hesitating briefly before patting the tearful girl.

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