UK seek to defuse Israeli anger at Straw comments

Britain last night sought to soothe diplomatic tensions with Israel sparked by comments on the Middle East peace process by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

In a BBC World Service interview earlier this week, Mr Straw said there was concern in the Arab world “that the West has been guilty of double standards - on the one hand saying the UN Security Council resolutions on Iraq must be implemented; on the other hand, sometimes appearing rather quixotic over the implementation of resolutions about Israel and Palestine”.

The remarks prompted an outcry in Israel, with reports that Britain’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Sherard Cowper-Coles was summoned to the Israeli foreign ministry to receive a formal protest.

Last night a spokesman for the Foreign Office in London stressed: “We are not suggesting the two situations are analogous.”

The spokesman said Mr Straw was making the point that all security council resolutions should be implemented, not just those relating to Iraq.

The resolutions relating to the Middle East peace process placed obligations on the Palestinians and neighbouring Arab countries as well as Israel.

Mr Straw had not been singling out Israel. The spokesman added: “The Foreign Secretary made clear in his interview his outrage at the terror under which the Israelis have had to live.

“We continue to have good relations with Israel.”