Foreign Secretary David Miliband has sent a Rosh Hashanah message to the UK's Jewish community, where he addressed the issue of hopes for a Middle East peace settlement in the coming year.

Mr Miliband said: "Rosh Hashanah is a time of celebration for Jewish communities in the UK and around the world. A chance to look forward to the coming year and make plans, but also a period of reflection and soul searching.

"At this time of reflection, many Jews will be praying for the peace of Israel. The Jewish New Year is a good time for us all to re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of peace in the Middle East. We must hope that this year, the Shofar's call will bring this peace, that has for so long been the hope and prayer of the Jewish people.

"I wish the Jewish community in Britain, in Israel and around the world a year of peace and prosperity. Shana Tovah v'hatima tovah."

David Miliband's mother was a Polish Jew from Czestochowa, and he recently wrote an article for the Jewish Chronicle detailing how he rediscovered his Jewish roots in a Polish graveyard.