Britain ready to fully support Palestinian-Israeli efforts to reach peace

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that his country is ready to provide all the support to Palestinians and Israelis to reach a long lasting peace and a comprehensive solution to all related issues, namely the issue of refugees. "During our meeting today I paid tribute to the courageous leadership he (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu have shown in agreeing to return to negotiations on the Middle East Peace Process," Hague said in a statement after meeting visiting President Abbas. "President Abbas and I agreed on the urgency of achieving a negotiated peace, to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once and for all. "I underlined to the President the UK's long-standing position: that we support a negotiated agreement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair and agreed solution for refugees. "I reiterated our opposition to the building of settlements on occupied land. And I reiterated to President Abbas that Britain is ready to do all it can to support the Palestinians, Israelis and the United States to achieve this agreement and the lasting peace that the people of the region need and deserve," Hague added.