Israel 

The UK looks forward to working with the new Israeli government towards a lasting peace in the region. We hope that the new Israeli government will make a strong and early statement of intent to engage in the Middle East Peace Process, based on a two-state solution. We believe this is the only way to achieve peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

We also call on the new Israeli government to abide by Israel's previous undertakings and to freeze expansion of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including so-called natural growth of existing settlements.

We hope that the new Israeli government will ease access and movement restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories quickly and effectively, open the Gaza crossings to aid and trade, halt house demolitions, and stop evictions when legal proceedings are ongoing.

Palestinian Authority (PA) 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is the representative for all Palestinians in the MEPP. We support him and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. We have played a leading role in supporting PA security sector reform and economic development.

The Foreign Secretary has stated his support for Egyptian-sponsored efforts towards Palestinian reconciliation including building a non-partisan, technocratic Government capable of working productively with the international community. This would allow Palestinians to focus jointly on economic development and preparation for elections. 
 

Arab partners 

For peace in the Middle East to last and benefit local populations, it must be comprehensive, including not only the Israelis and the Palestinians, but all the Arab states. The Foreign Secretary made this clear in Abu Dhabi in November 2008, when he called for a '23-state solution' in his speech, Partnership in the Middle East, with the Middle East.

The Arab Peace Initiative/Arab League

The Arab Peace Initiative (API) was first agreed in 2002. The UK believes that this initiative is an excellent basis on which to achieve peace in the Middle East. The Foreign Secretary has been consistent in his support for the API, stating that it is 'our best hope for peace'. He also welcomed publicly the Arab League’s letter in December 2008 to then President-elect Obama, which reaffirmed the Arab states’ commitment to the API.

There is more detailed information on the Arab Peace Initiative in our Background Information section.

Egypt

We strongly support Egypt’s major and effective role in the Palestinian reconciliation negotiations. Palestinian unity is important both for the reconstruction of Gaza and for the wider Peace Process.

Egypt was also instrumental in the recent Gaza ceasefire negotiations, holding discussions with both Israel and Hamas.

Saudi Arabia

We strongly support the role played by Saudi Arabia in the Middle East Peace Process, especially its launching and continued support for the Arab Peace Initiative and its efforts to promote Arab unity.
 

International Partners 

The EU

The Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) is a top priority for the EU in 2009. This was confirmed by the European Council Conclusions [PDF, 123 KB] of 26 January 2009, which followed EU foreign ministers’ meetings with the Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Turkish and Norwegian foreign ministers.

The EU has an important role to play in the MEPP: it is one of the largest financial contributors to the process, and we will continue to work with the Presidency and other EU partners to ensure the EU does all it can, both practically and politically, to support peace in the Middle East.

The UN

The UK works closely with the United Nations, both in the General Assembly and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. In this capacity we often play a leading role in the tabling and negotiation of Security Council Resolutions (SCRs), of which there are many relating to the Middle East Peace Process.

Two of the most recent SCRs on the MEPP are:

UNSCR 1850

United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1850 was agreed in December 2008. It was designed to re-focus attention on the Middle East and give new impetus to the Peace Process. It called for all parties to honour previous Security Council Resolutions and to work towards peace based on the Arab Peace Initiative.

UNSCR 1860

Having argued for an urgent, immediate and sustainable ceasefire since the beginning of the recent Gaza conflict, the UK was at the centre of negotiations that led to the Security Council passing SCR 1860 on 8 January 2009. In SCR 1860, the Security Council:

• called for an immediate, durable, and fully respected ceasefire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza
• called for unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian supplies, welcomed the opening of humanitarian corridors, and sought greater international support for humanitarian relief and economic development
• condemned all violence and hostilities against civilians and acts of terrorism
• called for action to prevent illicit trafficking in arms, and to ensure sustained re-opening of the Gaza crossings on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access
• encouraged steps toward intra-Palestinian reconciliation, and urges renewed and urgent efforts to reinvigorate the MEPP.

Board of Inquiry

On 12 February the UN Secretary-General announced a UN Board of Inquiry into incidents which caused damage to, or the death and injury of people at, UN premises in Gaza. We support the Board of Inquiry.

The US

We welcome President Obama's commitment to pursue peace in the Middle East, including his immediate appointment of Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy to the Middle East.

Speaking at the recent 2 March Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Egypt, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said,

'The United States is committed to a comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours and we will pursue it on many fronts. So too will we vigorously pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'

Quartet

The Quartet is a group, formed in 2002, comprising the UN, the EU, Russia and the United States, concerned with the negotiation of peace and stability in the Middle East. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is, the Quartet’s Representative. We support the aims and objectives of the Quartet, which continues to play an important role in galvanising support for the MEPP.

We welcome Tony Blair’s package of Confidence-Building Measures agreed by the Israelis and Palestinians to improve movement and access in the West Bank. Tony Blair and his team were active also during the recent Gaza conflict.