Cameron meets Abbas, supports Palestine's two-state solution

London: British Prime Minister David Cameron met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to discuss the Israel-Palestine peace process. Abbas expressed his readiness to resume peace talks with Israel and his hope that this could be achieved rapidly. Cameron urged progress towards securing the rapid resumption of peace talks, which remain “the only viable route to a lasting solution.” “The Prime Minister reiterated our support for a two-state solution and the UK’s support to the Palestinian Authority,” the spokesperson added. [caption id=“attachment_1524977” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] David Cameron Reuters[/caption] Cameron also expressed his desire to build on the economic progress in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank. “President Abbas outlined his plans for a new, technocratic Palestinian government, committed to the Quartet principles, including non-violence and the recognition of Israel,” Xinhua quoted a Downing Street spokesperson as saying in a statement after the meeting. A meeting between Abbas and US Secretary of State John Kerry is also scheduled for today in London to evaluate the course of the Israel-Palestine peace process, according to Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad al-Maleki. Abbas and Kerry are expected to talk about the reasons that led to the failure of the peace talks and discuss the possibility of resuming peace negotiations. Israel suspended the US-mediated peace negotiations with the Palestinians five days before they officially ended in response to the reconciliation agreement signed on 23 April between Abbas’s Fatah party and Hamas rulers of Gaza. Following the signing of the reconciliation deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not negotiate with any Palestinian government unless it recognizes the state of Israel. IANS