ENVOY: ‘PEACE IS CENTURIES AWAY’

PEACE IN the Middle East is unlikely to happen for “decades, even centuries” according to Britain’s ambassador to Israel.

David Quarrey said that, despite encouraging Israel and the Palestinians to work towards a peace agreement, the situation was at its worst, with no signs of improvement.

Speaking to British delegates from the Women’s International Zionist Organization( WIZO), who were visiting Israel to view co-existence projects in the region

he said: “Unfortunately it [peace] is going from a really difficult situation, to even worse.

“But I still think it is important to keep trying as it is not good for Israel, or Palestinians, or indeed Britain, for things to be as stuck as they are at the moment.

“It is a bad situation and it is certainly not getting any better.”

The Foreign Office veteran said that he agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: there is potential to work with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to help fight extremism.

However, Mr Quarrey said: “Where I disagree with him [Netanyahu] , is I don’t think Israel will be able to do that unless there is some real progress for the Palestinians.

“Whatever the King of Saudi Arabia thinks, the people there won’t buy it if they think the Palestinians are being side-lined.”

“Even if that is the only reason to do it. The Middle East is not going to be at peace for decades maybe centuries.”

Mr Quarrey added that “the occupation” was stopping positive stories about Israel and its diversity appearing in the media.