This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7516580.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Brown addresses Israel Parliament | Brown addresses Israel Parliament |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Britain is determined to prevent Iran developing nuclear arms, Gordon Brown has warned as he addresses the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. | Britain is determined to prevent Iran developing nuclear arms, Gordon Brown has warned as he addresses the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. |
| He said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel "to be wiped off the map" was abhorrent. | He said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel "to be wiped off the map" was abhorrent. |
| Tehran must abandon its nuclear programme or face "growing isolation". | |
| He said the UK stood ready to lead in taking firmer sanctions and was also set to vow to stand beside Israel in its "fight for liberty". | |
| 'Lifelong affection' | 'Lifelong affection' |
| Mr Brown's speech, the first speech to the Knesset by a British prime minister, marks the end of his three-day tour of the Middle East. | Mr Brown's speech, the first speech to the Knesset by a British prime minister, marks the end of his three-day tour of the Middle East. |
| In a message likely to go down well with his hosts, he insisted that the UK, the European Union and the United States were determined to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon - Israel's key strategic fear. | In a message likely to go down well with his hosts, he insisted that the UK, the European Union and the United States were determined to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon - Israel's key strategic fear. |
| Our country will continue to lead, with the US and our European partners in our determination to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons programme Gordon BrownUK Prime Minister | |
| His expression of support for Israel comes a day after he and the country's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, voiced differing views over settlements in Palestinian territories. | His expression of support for Israel comes a day after he and the country's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, voiced differing views over settlements in Palestinian territories. |
| But Mr Brown, referring to his father's "lifelong affection" for Israel, said: "For the whole of my life, I have counted myself a friend as a friend of Israel." | But Mr Brown, referring to his father's "lifelong affection" for Israel, said: "For the whole of my life, I have counted myself a friend as a friend of Israel." |
| He said the nation's accomplishments over the last 2,000 years have been "monumental" and Israel's partnership was "strong and getting stronger". | He said the nation's accomplishments over the last 2,000 years have been "monumental" and Israel's partnership was "strong and getting stronger". |
| "To those who question Israel's very right to exist, and threaten the lives of its citizens through terror, we say: the people of Israel have a right to live here, to live freely and to live in security," he said. | |
| Sanctions threat | |
| "And to those who believe that threatening statements fall upon deaf ears we say in one voice - that it is totally abhorrent for the president of Iran to call for Israel to be wiped from the map of the world. | |
| "Our country will continue to lead, with the US and our European partners in our determination to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons programme. | |
| "We stand ready to lead in taking firmer sanctions." | |
| In 2004, the Iranian president made a statement in which he called for an end to the Israeli state, envisaging its replacement with a Palestinian and Islamic state. He has also described the Holocaust as a myth. | In 2004, the Iranian president made a statement in which he called for an end to the Israeli state, envisaging its replacement with a Palestinian and Islamic state. He has also described the Holocaust as a myth. |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said that in the event of further sanctions, the focus was likely to be on Iran's energy resources. | Mr Brown's spokesman said that in the event of further sanctions, the focus was likely to be on Iran's energy resources. |
| Suicide bombings | |
| In particular, Tehran could be blocked from accessing equipment for its oil refineries. | In particular, Tehran could be blocked from accessing equipment for its oil refineries. |
| Before his Knesset speech, Mr Brown met the Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. | Before his Knesset speech, Mr Brown met the Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. |
| On Sunday he criticised Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which he said caused "suffering" among Palestinians and blocked the path to peace. | On Sunday he criticised Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which he said caused "suffering" among Palestinians and blocked the path to peace. |
| But he also insisted that suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israel must end. | But he also insisted that suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israel must end. |
| As well as Mr Olmert, Mr Brown met Israeli President Shimon Peres, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on his first visit to Jerusalem as premier. | As well as Mr Olmert, Mr Brown met Israeli President Shimon Peres, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on his first visit to Jerusalem as premier. |
| He also visited Jerusalem's Holocaust memorial and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. | He also visited Jerusalem's Holocaust memorial and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. |