British Foreign Secretary William Hague has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK “stands ready to assist in any way” in advancing the peace process.
The two leaders met as part of Mr Hague’s visit to Israel this week alongside US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to visit Israel this week during a short tour of the Middle East.
He is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on the peace process.
The trip has been planned for some time and is being made in an effort to support US Secretary of State John Kerry's work to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations.
European Union foreign ministers – including British Foreign Secretary William Hague – have backed plans to implement further labelling of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Britain was one of 12 states to write to EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton pledging to assist the union in the “important work” of labelling.
The new US Secretary of State, John Kerry, honoured the UK with a visit at the start of his first diplomatic tour in the post and dished out a lesson in how it feels to be a small nation patronised by a superpower. There was ample briefing in advance that the focus of his discussions with the UK government would be Syria and the stalled Middle East peace process.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that 2013 could see a ‘perfect storm’ in the Middle East and that President Barack Obama must lead the way on Israel.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that 2013 could see a ‘perfect storm’ in the Middle East and that President Barack Obama must lead the way on Israel.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that European trade sanctions against Israel are not an option, Reuters has reported.
"I don't think there is enthusiasm around the European Union ... about economic sanctions in Europe on Israel. I don't believe there would be anywhere near a consensus nor is that our approach,” Mr Hague said.
Government sources have told Sky News that Britain has threatened to "revisit" EU trade agreements with Israel in the wake of Israel’s warning that it may build 3,000 new settlement homes east of Jerusalem.
Israel’s warning comes following the UN vote last week to upgrade the Palestinian Authority from ‘entity’ to ‘non-member observer’ status.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that the likelihood of a return to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations would have been greater if the Palestinian Authority had given the reassurances Britain asked for ahead of Thursday UN General assembly vote.
