Foreign Secretary visits Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson holds high level meetings with leaders on one-day visit to the region.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has today (8 March) visited Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories for a number of high level meetings to discuss a range of regional issues, including the Middle East Peace Process, Iran, Syria and Daesh.
Foreign Secretary Johnson met with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the strong bi-lateral ties between the countries in trade, innovation and science and the close security co-operation. Mr Johnson also met with Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog and MK Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid.
In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Secretary met President Mahmoud Abbas, Foreign Minister Riyad al Malki and other senior Palestinian officials. The non governmental organisation, Peace Now also briefed him on the latest trends in settlement growth. In his meetings, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, outlined the UK approach to the centenary of the Balfour Declaration and highlighted UK commitment to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state that guarantees the political rights of Palestinians, alongside a safe and secure Israel.
Speaking after the visit, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:
I was delighted to visit Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the first time as Foreign Secretary.
I have held a number of constructive meetings with President Rivlin, President Abbas, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Malki to discuss a range of issues and to reaffirm the UK’s support for a two-state solution to secure peace and prosperity for both the Israelis and the Palestinians.
We will continue to support efforts to improve conditions on the ground to enable negotiations to resume and look forward to working with the parties, the new US Administration and the wider international community to make progress in 2017 and beyond.