Cameron to make 1st visit as UK leader to Israel

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister David Cameron plans to make his first visit as British leader to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week.

Cameron's Downing Street office says he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deliver a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday.

He also is scheduled to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during his two-day trip.

Cameron initially planned to visit Israel last month but had to cancel the trip because his government faced emergency flooding in parts of England.

This trip coincides with rising Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Last week, Abbas announced he would never recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Netanyahu's government says such recognition would demonstrate that Abbas' Fatah movement wants peace.

Cameron did visit Israel as an opposition lawmaker before his 2010 rise to power.