(politics.co.uk).The prime ministers of Britain and Israel have emerged from talks on continued settlement building.
Benjamin Netanyahu sounded a relatively contrite note on the issue, and stressed the moves Israel was making to ensure ease the suffering of Palestinians.
"We're working hard to advance a peace process that will lead to an actual peace result and we hope to move forward in the weeks and months ahead," he said,"We are not weak. We have already moved. My government has moved 147 checkpoints and roadblocks. The 14 remaining checkpoints… are manned 24 hours a day to facilitate movement.
"We have moved forward," he continued,"We intend to move forward. We expect our Palestinian partners to be courageous partners for peace that move forward. With the help of our friends… I hope we can achieve progress that may confound the cynics and surprise the world. But there is no substitute for courageous leadership
"Gordon is a true friend of Israel and a true friend of peace, a champion of decency."
Mr Brown stressed that Britain was committed to the peace process, but he sounded a cautious note when discussing the matter of settlements.
"We want a viable Palestinian economy so that people can see the benefits of prosperity from peaceful coexistence and working together. We want to involve the rest of the Arab states in making sure they are involved and support a peace process that works."
But the Israeli prime minister was stern when discussing Jerusalem.
"I've made it clear. Jerusalem is the sovereign capital of Israel. We accept no limitations on our sovereignty," he said.
"To put a fine point on this - Jerusalem is not a settlement. The settlement issue is outstanding, it is one of the issues that have to be resolved. But our position is Jerusalem is the united capital of the Jewish people. We've only been around here for 3,500 years."
Furthermore, the Israeli prime minister evidently spent much of the meeting urging action on Iran.
"Time is running out," he said.
"It's late in the day but it's not too late. If there is a firm resolve by the international community to apply crippling sanctions I think this regime will have to make a very difficult decision about its future course. I think it's susceptible to these pressures.
"What has been revealed in the recent dramatic events of the Iranian election is this regime does not enjoy the support of the Iranian people. It is far weaker than meets the eye."He added: "The stronger those actions are today, the less need there will be for stronger actions tomorrow.
Mr Brown sounded similar rhetoric, saying: "We recognise the threat that is posed by Iran.We recognise that if they make the decision to go forward and provide nuclear weapons that has profound security implications".
"Iran has a choice. They can work with the international community… or they can find themselves ostracised and excluded because of their decision to break the NPT (nuclear non-proliferation treaty) and hide from the world what they're doing."
