Gordon Brown on the Middle East peace process
- 00:02:08
- ITN
Gordon Brown on the Middle East peace process
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he is "optimistic" about the prospects for peace in the Middle East after discussions with the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu. Though he stressed that it was necessary to remain "realistic" in efforts to secure lasting peace, he stressed that Britain was a "true friend" of Israel, a sentiment endorsed by Mr Netanyahu. The Prime Minister has repeatedly called for an end to Israeli settlement building, and he reiterated that this was "a barrier to a two state solution" Mr Netanyahu said he was in favour of a demilitarised Palestinian state, and said that Israel was committed to peace. During the Downing Street press conference, Mr Brown also said he "deplored" recent comments about the Israeli regime made by the Iranian government. The UK and Israel shared the same concerns over the possibility of Iranian nuclear weapons, he added. Mr Netanyahu is also due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell during his four-day tour of Europe.
ITN | August 25, 2009
