Middle East peace process – UK PM Blair press conference – Non-UN document

---

Middle East peace deal is essential – PM

The Prime Minister has said that a negotiated settlement on the issue of Palestine is "essential" for world peace.

Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, the PM said that he would do "whatever it takes" to help achieve a lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.

He said:

"Anybody who cares about peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential. As I have said in many occasions I would do whatever I could to help such a resolution come about."

Hopes of brokering a peace deal and a two-state solution, as supported by UN resolution 1515, have been complicated by recent fighting in Gaza and the West Bank between Hamas and Fatah, Palestine's main political parties.

Hamas won a parliamentary majority in recent Palestinian elections but has ignored requests from the US and the UK to remove a call for the destruction of Israel from its charter.

Today's press conference, on the subject of climate change, was Mr Blair's final press briefing in Downing Street before stepping down as Prime Minister on 27 June.