The Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, traditionally a strong supporter of Israel, has condemned Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

In an interview on Monday ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lubomir Zaorálek said: "As a close friend of yours, it is important for the Czech Republic to say that if the situation does not change it will be hard to maintain our position."

Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to recognise Israel in 1948, while in 2012, the Czech Republic was the only EU member state to vote against granting Palestine non-member state observer status at the UN. That year, Mr Netanyahu was quoted saying: "Israel has no better friend in Europe than the Czech Republic."

In another interview with a Czech news agency, Mr Zaorálek spoke about his recent trip to Gaza, remarking that he found the unemployment rate in the area troubling: "More and more people ought to feel that they have a normal chance in their lives."