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Brown flies into Israel for talks Brown flies into Israel for talks
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has flown into Tel Aviv for two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders.Gordon Brown has flown into Tel Aviv for two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders.
The move follows the prime minister's surprise visit to Iraq earlier. During his stay, Mr Brown will hold talks with Israeli president Shimon Peres and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
During his stay in the Middle East, Mr Brown will hold talks with Israeli president Shimon Peres and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
Aides said the talks would focus on barriers to investment in the occupied territories, Britain's trade links and ways forward in the peace process.Aides said the talks would focus on barriers to investment in the occupied territories, Britain's trade links and ways forward in the peace process.
His schedule also includes an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday - the first by a British prime minister. The trip follows an earlier visit by the prime minister to Iraq.
His schedule also includes an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday - the first by a British head of government.
He will be offering financial support for Palestinian development. There will also be substantial economic assistance should peace be achieved, officials said.He will be offering financial support for Palestinian development. There will also be substantial economic assistance should peace be achieved, officials said.
The visit to Israel is Mr Brown's first since taking over as prime minister a year ago.The visit to Israel is Mr Brown's first since taking over as prime minister a year ago.
He had visited Iraq on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki before moving on to see British troops stationed in the south of the country. Iraq visit
He visited Iraq on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki before moving on to see British troops stationed in the south of the country.
The visit was made ahead of a statement next week on Britain's involvement there.
Mr Brown said that although "huge progress" had been made he would not set an "artificial timetable" for reducing troop numbers.
Plans to halve UK troop numbers to 2,500 by spring were delayed due to violence in Basra at the end of March.
Numbers had been reduced from 5,000 to 4,000 between October 2007 and early April.
Mr Brown praised the professionalism and courage of British troops at Basra Air Station and told them their work would make a huge difference to the country in the long term.