BICOM

The British Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt arrived in Israel yesterday afternoon on his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories since his appointment. Burt will meet with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and yesterday met with Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. During his meeting with Ayalon, the two leaders discussed regional developments, and the latest news regarding the political turmoil in Tunisia and Lebanon. The leaders also discussed concerns over the threat of a nuclear Iran and Burt updated Ayalon on the united approach the international community is taking leading into the talks in Istanbul later this week. “Deputy Minister Ayalon and I had a productive meeting today that emphasised our close partnership on bilateral and regional issues. We discussed a range of things including the urgent need to find a way to move forward on the peace process,” Burt said after the meeting.

Burt will spend today assessing the damage caused by the fire in the Carmel Forest and also plans to visit various educational projects in the north and will meet with the mayor of Nazareth and members of the Israeli Arab community. The minister will also attend a gathering of Holocaust survivors to emphasise Britain’s support for Holocaust remembrance.