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/8031248.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israeli minister heads for Europe Italy urges better EU-Israel ties
(2 days later)
Israel's controversial foreign minister leaves for Europe on Sunday, in the first official visit abroad by a member of the new right-wing government. Italy has said ties between Israel and the EU must be strengthened if the EU wants to play a "major role" in the Middle East peace process.
Avigdor Lieberman is scheduled to visit Rome, Paris, Berlin and Prague - which currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was speaking after talks in Rome with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.
The visit comes at a time when EU-Israel ties are particularly tense. Mr Lieberman's visit comes amid tense relations between the EU and Israel.
The EU wants Israel's new government to endorse a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's new government has resisted EU calls to endorse a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians
Statehood issue During his European tour, Mr Lieberman is also scheduled to visit France, Germany and the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.
An ultra-nationalist Jewish settler in the occupied West Bank, Avigdor Lieberman has sparked controversy at home and abroad. 'Concrete results'
The focus of his trip to Europe is to emphasise Israel's message that a nuclear Iran would be dangerous for the world at large, not just Israel. "What they call the upgrading between Europe and Israel must not stop because that way Europe can play a major role [in the Middle East peace process]," Mr Frattini said at a joint news conference with Mr Lieberman.
But Mr Lieberman's European counterparts are likely to press him on other issues, such as Palestinian statehood. This government's goal is not [to] produce slogans or make pompous declarations, but to reach concrete results Avigdor LiebermanIsraeli Foreign Minister
There have been mounting calls in Europe to suspend a planned upgrade in relations with Israel until its new right-wing government publicly expresses support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli minister also backed the call for better relations between his country and the 27-member strong bloc.
If the suspension goes ahead Israel's Foreign Ministry has warned the European Union it could lose its role as a broker in Middle East peace efforts. But Mr Lieberman said a rapprochement "should not be tied to other issues".
Mr Lieberman says the phrases "two-state solution" and "land for peace" should be abolished as they over-simplify a complex reality. An ultra-nationalist Jewish settler in the occupied West Bank, Mr Lieberman skirted around the key issue of a Palestinian state.
He could well ruffle some feathers in Europe. But at the same time Israel's President Shimon Peres has been sent to the US - Israel's closest ally - to calm concerns. "This government's goal is not [to] produce slogans or make pompous declarations, but to reach concrete results," he said after being asked if he would ever endorse a Palestinian state.
His planned message to the Obama administration: Israel still believes in peace. There have been mounting calls in Europe to suspend a planned upgrade in relations with Israel until its new cabinet publicly expresses support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
If the suspension goes ahead, Israel's foreign ministry has warned the EU it could lose its role as a broker in Middle East peace efforts, the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says.
Avigdor Lieberman has sparked controversy at home and abroad, with his fiery rhetoric.
The focus of his trip to Europe is to emphasise Israel's message that a nuclear Iran would be dangerous for the world at large, not just Israel, our correspondent says.
She adds that he could well ruffle some feathers in Europe. But at the same time Israel's President Shimon Peres has been sent to the US - Israel's closest ally - to calm concerns.