BICOM

Foreign Secretary William Hague discussed the peace process and other challenges facing the region during meetings yesterday with senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Speaking in Ramallah following a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Hague characterised the peace process as “an urgent priority for the United Kingdom and the world.” He threw his weight behind US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is also visiting the region as part of a concerted attempt to kick-start direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Hague called it “the biggest effort in twenty years to bring new momentum to the Middle East peace process” and said “My visit is in support of those efforts.” However, Hague also cautioned that “The prospect of a two-state solution cannot be kept alive forever. We believe it’s very urgent.”

The Foreign Secretary was also in Jerusalem, where he met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting also attended by International Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin. Hague emphasised that Israel is “an important friend and strategic partner for the United Kingdom.” He said that the meeting addressed a “whole range of international issues” including Iran’s nuclear programme, on which he outlined support for “the approach of sanctions and negotiations” while also stressing that “nobody should doubt our resolve in these matters.” Hague also commented on the Friends of Syria meeting in Jordan this week, saying that he hoped “to make some progress towards a political resolution in Syria.”

Netanyahu told Hague “I look forward to working with you to achieve these goals of security, peace and stability in our area.” The Israeli premier praised efforts “to revitalise the peace process.” Netanyahu also outlined the failure of the international community to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which he described as “the biggest challenge of our times.”