BETHLEHEM (AP) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded Sunday that Israel cease settlement construction and promised more money to jump-start the battered Palestinian economy. Gordon Brown, left, shakes hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. 1 of 2 In his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories as Britain's leader, Brown repeatedly stressed that economics are key to Mideast peace, and said Israel should ease travel restrictions in the West Bank that have hindered commerce. But his strongest comments were reserved for the settlements: "I think the whole European Union is very clear on this matter: We want to see a freeze on settlements." "Settlement expansion has made peace harder to achieve. It erodes trust, it heightens Palestinian suffering, it makes the compromises Israel needs to make for peace more difficult," Brown said at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
BETHLEHEM (AP) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded Sunday that Israel cease settlement construction and promised more money to jump-start the battered Palestinian economy.
Gordon Brown, left, shakes hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. 1 of 2
In his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories as Britain's leader, Brown repeatedly stressed that economics are key to Mideast peace, and said Israel should ease travel restrictions in the West Bank that have hindered commerce.
But his strongest comments were reserved for the settlements: "I think the whole European Union is very clear on this matter: We want to see a freeze on settlements."
"Settlement expansion has made peace harder to achieve. It erodes trust, it heightens Palestinian suffering, it makes the compromises Israel needs to make for peace more difficult," Brown said at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
Gordon Brown will pledge "unbreakable" support to Israel while launching his strongest attack yet on Iran. The Prime Minister will send a tough message to the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, warning of imminent sanctions on oil and gas if he does not abandon his nuclear ambitions. In a landmark speech to the Israeli parliament, Mr Brown will say that Mr Ahmadinejad's denial of Israel's right to exist is "totally abhorrent". The European Union has already said it stands ready to push for a block on foreign investment in new Iranian oil and gas projects along with sanctions on the financial sector if the Gulf state does not comply with requests to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
The Prime Minister will send a tough message to the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, warning of imminent sanctions on oil and gas if he does not abandon his nuclear ambitions.
In a landmark speech to the Israeli parliament, Mr Brown will say that Mr Ahmadinejad's denial of Israel's right to exist is "totally abhorrent".
The European Union has already said it stands ready to push for a block on foreign investment in new Iranian oil and gas projects along with sanctions on the financial sector if the Gulf state does not comply with requests to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
Even I'm surprised by the extent to which he looks out of his depth. keep to the Fen Causeway
...his plea to the Israelis to stop expanding settlements (nb, not remove the ones they have)
Aye; that's the nub. The entire country is one expanding settlement, but each individual settlement built past the Green Line is (yet another) violation of the Geneva Accord, as is each apartheid road built between them, as is the Wall.
How the Israelis have turned into their own worst nightmares is a study in mankind's ability to justify anything, then doing it repeatedly, escalated and writ large in order to prove to others that the original (and each subsequent) error was well thought out and worthy of validation.
Would that we worked and escalated so intensely to prove how justified our acts of kindness are, but instead we only get to study such behavior in the development of criminal behavior.
How the Israelis will ever make reparations for their century of terror (essentially upon another of their own family line) will be another interesting study. Has anyone started making book on when that will start and how much that will be? Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
So the book should be on when the US falls over, which I don't see happening in the near future but is a reasonable bet 20 -30 years downline. keep to the Fen Causeway
Larisa Alexandrovna is the key investigative journalist for The Raw Story You can't be me, I'm taken
Following the links from the comments takes you some even more maniacal ravings. Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
The entire country is one expanding settlement
Besides, doesn't he want to be alone with his money these days ? keep to the Fen Causeway
