UK Prime minister's belief in Israel 'unbreakable'
Baku, March 13 (AZERTAC). David Cameron has said his belief in Israel is "unbreakable" while urging the country's politicians to pursue a deal with Palestinians to bring "an end of all conflict".
He told Israelis to imagine "what this land would be like if a two-state solution was actually achieved".
In his first visit to the country as prime minister, Mr Cameron also rejected calls for boycotts of Israel.
He will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday.
Mr Cameron was given a standing ovation as he rose to speak to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and joked that it was the "wrong place" to have come if he was looking for a quiet alternative to Prime Minister's Questions, given that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had been heckled during his opening speech. Mr Cameron said he felt "some sense of connection" to Israel due to his "relatively limited" Jewish ancestry.
He said: "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.
"We back the compromises needed - including the halt to settlement activity and an end to Palestinian incitement too.
"And we recognise the difficult and courageous decisions both sides are taking, not least with Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to release terrorist prisoners, with all the anguish that can bring for affected families."
As he pushed Israeli MPs to work for a peaceful future, he said the message from Britain was "simply this: we'll be with you every step of the way".
He said he wanted to encourage Israelis to focus on imagining "what this land would be like if a two-state solution was actually achieved".
"Imagine Israel - like any other democratic nation - finally treated fairly and normally by all," he added.
He said that peace would not only bring security, but also deliver "extraordinary" economic benefits for the Israeli and Palestinians by enabling them to work together and forge international trade and business links.
He also rejected calls for boycotts of Israel,
"Britain opposes boycotts. Whether it's trade unions campaigning for the exclusion of Israelis or universities trying to stifle academic exchange, Israel's place as a homeland for the Jewish people will never rest on hollow resolutions passed by amateur politicians.
"It is your destiny. Delegitimizing the state of Israel is wrong. It's abhorrent. And together we will defeat it."
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