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| David Cameron discussing Mid East peace with Blair and Abbas | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Efforts to rekindle the Middle East peace process are dominating day two of Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Israel and the West Bank. | |
| Mr Cameron met former PM Tony Blair, who represents the UN, the EU, the US and Russia in the region. | |
| The prime minister is also going to Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | |
| Mr Cameron promised £1.5m of grants to help Palestinian companies target foreign investors and export markets. | |
| The prime minister also wants to see training given to more than 1,000 female refugees in Gaza. | The prime minister also wants to see training given to more than 1,000 female refugees in Gaza. |
| He has said his aim is to create new jobs and industries that could also benefit Israelis. | He has said his aim is to create new jobs and industries that could also benefit Israelis. |
| The meeting with Mr Blair in East Jerusalem lasted for about 20 minutes. The pair discussed Mr Blair's Palestinian economic initiative. | |
| 'Unbreakable' | 'Unbreakable' |
| After the meeting Mr Blair said: "The British Government has actually got a great opportunity here, because it is relatively trusted by both sides, which is quite rare in this situation. | |
| "I think we have got the right idea on relationships between a political negotiation to resolve all the difficult issues about borders and security and Jerusalem and so on, and the economic side, which is absolutely vital because if we don't build the Palestinian economy up at the same time as you are pursuing the political negotiation then a state for the Palestinians seems a dream and not a reality." | |
| Mr Cameron said of his meeting with Mr Blair: "We come from different political parties, different political traditions and there are many things we disagreed about, but we both want a two-state solution and he has got a contribution to help bring that about by helping generate Palestinian economic growth." | |
| Despite Palestinian rocket attacks on Wednesday, which were followed by Israeli airstrikes, Mr Cameron still held a video conference with young Palestinians in Gaza to discuss the humanitarian situation. | |
| He has "unreservedly" condemned the Palestinian attack, which was claimed by the Islamic Jihad group. | He has "unreservedly" condemned the Palestinian attack, which was claimed by the Islamic Jihad group. |
| Mr Cameron also met eight young Palestinian business people from East Jerusalem, telling them that he hoped that "one day, hopefully not too far away", he would be able to return to East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. | |
| "That's the British position," he said. "We support the two-state solution and that means two states with genuinely mutual respect and understanding." | |
| Before Mr Cameron left for the Middle East, Downing Street said he would use his first trip to Israel as prime minister to call on both sides to back US Secretary of State John Kerry's peace process plans. | Before Mr Cameron left for the Middle East, Downing Street said he would use his first trip to Israel as prime minister to call on both sides to back US Secretary of State John Kerry's peace process plans. |
| Mr Kerry wants Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign up to a framework for a final settlement by the end of next month. | Mr Kerry wants Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign up to a framework for a final settlement by the end of next month. |
| On the first day of his two-day trip, Mr Cameron used a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to urge the country's politicians to pursue a deal with Palestinians to bring "an end of all conflict". | On the first day of his two-day trip, Mr Cameron used a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to urge the country's politicians to pursue a deal with Palestinians to bring "an end of all conflict". |
| Mr Cameron also rejected calls for boycotts of Israel and told the parliament: "We all yearn for a lasting and secure peace between Israel and its neighbours. | Mr Cameron also rejected calls for boycotts of Israel and told the parliament: "We all yearn for a lasting and secure peace between Israel and its neighbours. |
| "Britain fully supports the great work that American Secretary of State John Kerry has been leading. And we believe that in Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas you have leaders who want peace too." | "Britain fully supports the great work that American Secretary of State John Kerry has been leading. And we believe that in Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas you have leaders who want peace too." |
| Mr Cameron last visited Israel as leader of the opposition in 2009. | Mr Cameron last visited Israel as leader of the opposition in 2009. |