Israel’s foreign minister has called the peace deal being negotiated by John Kerry “the best proposal we can get” and has praised the US Secretary of State for his continued efforts.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Avigdor Lieberman said: “There are many problems on the ground, so this direct contact, this negotiation, these talks – it’s very important to keep alive and maintain.”

It has been suggested that, since being cleared of fraud charges last November, Mr Lieberman has taken a more moderate approach to Israel’s foreign policy – possibly to secure his position as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s successor.

But Mr Lieberman maintained a firm line when discussing the political standing of Arab-Israeli citizens, stressing their need to choose a side to support.

He said: “They live in some kind of schizophrenia, they don’t know if they are Israeli citizens or if they are Palestinians. Even during our football games you see Palestinian flags”.