Our position on the Arab-Israeli conflict is clear: we want hope and security to take the place of poverty, insecurity, and despair. We believe that there is no viable alternative to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. A democratic and viable state of Palestine must live peacefully alongside an Israel secure from attack and recognised by its neighbours. Jerusalem must be the capital for both, with a just settlement for refugees.

The Arab Peace Initiative is an excellent basis for progress towards these goals. We are working with our partners, including the EU and the United States, to pursue the peace process with vigour.

On 11 May 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband attended the UN Security Council debate on the Middle East. His statement called for bold decisions to meet the challenges in the region.

Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis made his first visits to the region from 4 - 21 August, meeting people from Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jerusalem. Videos from his visits are posted on this page.

The two-state solution

We are convinced that only comprehensive peace in the area can be lasting; peace with an independent Palestinian state at its core, underpinned by broader peace between Israel and the whole Arab world. In other words, a 23-state solution comprised of 22 members of the Arab League plus Israel.

The recent crisis in Gaza has demonstrated further the urgent need for lasting peace in the Middle East. We will continue to work with our European allies and the United States to push for a comprehensive solution.

For the two-state solution to be successful, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority need to uphold previous commitments. These include promises on illegal Israeli settlements and on access to and movement within the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Steps now need to be taken by both Israel and the Arab world to rebuild build trust and improve the situation on the ground for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Settlements

The Roadmap signed in 2003 sets out the steps the Palestinian Authority and Israel need to take to achieve a negotiated settlement. Both sides have signed up to the Roadmap, and both former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas renewed their commitment to the Roadmap obligations at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007.

Among other things, these obligations require that the government of Israel freezes all settlement-building in the OPTs and dismantle all settlement outposts.

The government has been clear that settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank are illegal, and that continued settlement activity is contrary to Israel’s commitments under the Road Map. We continue to speak out about this issue. The Foreign Secretary has urged Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman to halt all settlement expansion, including so-called ‘natural growth’ and the Prime Minister conveyed the same message to Prime Minister Netanyahu during their meeting on 25 August. We are encouraged that President Obama and US Secretary of State Clinton have also clearly called for all settlement activity to stop.
 
We are working to identify constructive ways to discourage illegal settlement activity, including ensuring that settlement activity is not inadvertently encouraged by UK and EU policies.

Jerusalem

The status of Jerusalem has been contentious for decades, and indeed throughout history. Israel maintains that Jerusalem is its capital city, but the international community does not recognise this claim. The UK's embassy in Israel is in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem we have a Consulate-General, with a Consul-General who is not accredited to any state. This is an expression of our view that currently no state has sovereignty over Jerusalem.

A cornerstone of the two-state solution is that Jerusalem should be the capital for both Israel and any new Palestinian state. The UK remains committed to this goal.

Movement and access

We are encouraged by the removal of many of the Israeli checkpoints within the West Bank, made possible by the significant improvement of the Palestinian Security Forces. The result has been a significant improvement both the quality of life for many Palestinians living in the West Bank, the Palestinian economy.

However more checkpoints still remain in place. The restrictions placed by the Israeli government on the movement of Palestinians have a serious humanitarian and economic impact in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Continued or increased use of checkpoints, roadblocks, curfews, a permit system and the barrier severely restrict the ability of Palestinians to move within the West Bank.

The Israeli barrier

While we recognise Israel's right to self-defence and to protect its citizens, it has been our longstanding position that any barrier must be built on Israeli territory.

The barrier along the chosen route is contrary to international law and continues to have a highly detrimental impact upon the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians affected by the barrier's route.

Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis pressed the Israelis on this, amongst other things, during his visit to the region this summer.