Saturday, 16 Jun 2007 18:53
Gordon Brown wants an "economic roadmap"
Prime-minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown has said Britain will play a "historic role" in finding peace in the Middle East.
Speaking in London at the last hustings event for his uncontested Labour leadership bid, the chancellor said fighting poverty through economic investment would improve conditions in the region.
At present hopes of reconciliation between the Israelis and the Palestinians seem a long way off. The current internecine conflict between Hamas and Fatah is preventing the unity needed for a Palestinian state.
But Mr Brown told Labour party members in London today that, with eventual "political reconciliation" and "a way of solving the security problems", an end to the killings in the Middle East would be possible.
"We've got to give people a stake in the future," he urged.
"Britain will be prepared to make the investment that is necessary to allow the economic roadmap for peace… to enable people to see that if there is peace there will also be prosperity."
He pointed out the huge disparity in average incomes between Israeli citizens and those living in the Palestinian territories, where high unemployment and correspondingly high poverty levels are causing intense suffering.
Mr Brown takes over as prime minister from outgoing leader Tony Blair on June 27th.