Secret peace talks between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, took place in London, the JC can reveal.

The encounter was hosted over dinner by UK businessman Poju Zabludowicz at his north London home.

A secret meeting between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has taken place in London as part of a series of back-channel negotiations to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East, the JC can reveal.

The Israeli president has told a delegation of US congressman that he hoped "both sides" would return to Middle East peace talks within the next month.

Shimon Peres called for negotiations to resume "before September", when the Palestinians plan to unilaterally declare statehood at the United Nations.

Shimon Peres is said to be conducting secret talks with Palestinian negotiators in a bid to restart the peace process.

According to Ha'aretz the Israeli president has coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the discussions.

Mr Peres was said to have met Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, in Ramallah earlier this week and on other occasions.

Shimon Peres is a president for all occasions.

Quartet envoy Tony Blair has told an audience at the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem that "supporting freedom is an intervention that goes with the grain of human progress".

Israeli President Shimon Peres is to take part in a meeting with a Colombian representative next week – the pop star Shakira.

The singer will join Nobel Prize winners, politicians, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and US comedian Sarah Silverman at the annual Presidential Conference in Jerusalem.