Sole guarantor of Israeli security is comprehensive agreement with Palestinians, claims Hague

Britain’s Foreign Secretary has said that there is a need for new negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis to make progress towards a two-state solution. In a press statement issued after what he called a “useful and productive” meeting with Ehud Barak, Israel’s Minister of Defence, William Hague pledged that Britain will be cooperating with the United States and the European Union for the resumption of negotiations and a two-state solution.

“The only way to ensure Israel’s security in the region in the long term is through reaching a comprehensive agreement with the Palestinians,” said Hague. “In that context, I expressed our deep concern over the continuation of the settlements’ building which threatens the possibility of reaching a two-state solution.”

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The Foreign Secretary renewed Britain’s opposition to Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons. “I stressed on the continued commitment of the United Kingdom to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and we discussed the latest round of sanctions against Iran that have been imposed by the EU on October 15.” Iran’s leaders face the option of either fulfilling their international obligations and settling their dispute with the international community, he continued, or facing more pressure. Hague said that while sanctions are painful, Britain remains committed to finding a peaceful solution to the problem.

It is not known whether the Foreign Secretary asked the minister why Israel refuses to submit its own nuclear arsenal to inspection by the international community.