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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Brown in Middle East leader talks | Brown in Middle East leader talks |
| (9 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. |
| He has held talks with Israeli president Shimon Peres, who lavished him with praise, and will later meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. | He has held talks with Israeli president Shimon Peres, who lavished him with praise, and will later meet 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. |
| The trip follows an earlier visit by the prime minister to Iraq. | The trip follows an earlier visit by the prime minister to Iraq. |
| 'Respected leader' | 'Respected leader' |
| His schedule also includes an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday - the first by a British head of government. | His schedule also includes an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday - the first by a British head of government. |
| Mr Brown began his visit by laying a wreath at Jerusalem's Holocaust museum. | Mr Brown began his visit by laying a wreath at Jerusalem's Holocaust museum. |
| Afterwards he said: "Nothing prepares you for what we see here. | Afterwards he said: "Nothing prepares you for what we see here. |
| "This is the story of the atrocities that should have been prevented, the killings that should never have happened, the truth that everybody who loves humanity should know." | "This is the story of the atrocities that should have been prevented, the killings that should never have happened, the truth that everybody who loves humanity should know." |
| He said he was committed to enabling pupils from every school to go on trips to Auschwitz to learn about what happened there. | He said he was committed to enabling pupils from every school to go on trips to Auschwitz to learn about what happened there. |
| He will later see Palestinian leaders in Bethlehem, where Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will accompany him to the Church of the Nativity. | He will later see Palestinian leaders in Bethlehem, where Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will accompany him to the Church of the Nativity. |
| Mr Peres said it was "a real pleasure" to welcome Mr Brown, calling him "one of the most respected leaders of our time".Gordon Brown was praised for maintaining his religious beliefs | |
| He also praised the British prime minister for his religious beliefs, voicing admiration that Mr Brown had been an economist for so long and also remained a "sincere believer". | He also praised the British prime minister for his religious beliefs, voicing admiration that Mr Brown had been an economist for so long and also remained a "sincere believer". |
| During his trip, Mr Brown will stay at the King David Hotel - the British headquarters in colonial times. | During his trip, Mr Brown will stay at the King David Hotel - the British headquarters in colonial times. |
| He is expected to offer financial support for Palestinian development. There will also be substantial economic assistance should peace be achieved, officials said. | He is expected to offer 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. |
| Iraq visit | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |