The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Partners for peace’ plea
DAVID CAMERON has urged the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to be “partners for peace” after holding talks with both sides during a two-day visit to the Middle East.
The visit was overshadowed by a massive rocket attack on Israel from Hamasoccupied Gaza, which caused no injuries but sparked air strikes by Israel in response.
Despite the attack, which the Prime Minister condemned “unreservedly”, Mr Cameron said he still believed it would be possible to reach a final settlement between the two nations under the renewed drive in the peace process being pushed by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Speaking alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after talks in Bethlehem, which followed discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said: “They both will have to take difficult and unpalatable and sometimes unpopular decisions for their constituencies in order to achieve that settlement, but I sense it’s possible. I’m not saying it’s definite or even probable, but it’s certainly possible.”
Mr Cameron also held brief talks with Tony Blair, who is now the special envoy of the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia, working on the development of the Palestinian economy.
The former PM said Mr Cameron was right to stress the importance of economic and business links to creating a stable and prosperous Middle East, and said: “The British Government has actually got a great opportunity here, because it is relatively trusted by both sides, which is quite rare in this situation.”
Mr Cameron told Mr Abbas: “I have been encouraged by discussions with yourself and Prime Minister Netanyahu that the will is there. I encourage both sides to seize this window of opportunity.
“The path to this future vision will not be an easy one ... but the prize could be great.”
Mr Abbas, who was due to fly to the US to meet President Barack Obama following his talks with Mr Cameron, said it was not yet possible to say whether the Palestinians accept the framework for final status talks being put forward by Mr Kerry, as he had not yet seen it.