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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. | |
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" - a hint that further sanctions could be considered. | |
He is also set to vow to stand beside Israel in its "fight for liberty". | He is 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. | |
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." | |
Oil refineries | Oil refineries |
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 will say. | "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 will say. |
"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." | "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." |
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. |
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. |