PM meets with Israeli counterpart
12 June 2006
Tony Blair has underlined his preference for a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, as he met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Downing Street, Mr Blair said that the international community was agreed on how to resolve the problem and that the principles necessary to establish peace in the Middle East were "very clear".
This included a two-state solution with "an independent, viable Palestinian state" and a "secure Israel", a renunciation of violence and an adherence to the roadmap for peace.
Mr Olmert stated, "the first policy of Israel is negotiations" and that this was a chance for the Palestinians to "realise their dreams" of an independent state.
He said that Israel had made a generous offer to leave 90 per cent of the territories but wanted discussions with the Palestinians at the negotiating table.
