Olmert scorns idea of ‘economic peace’

“Then there will be an opening to what I call economic peace and co-operation that will change the face of the Middle East.”

Speaking at the sparsely-attended communal event, the outgoing Israeli prime minister also paid tribute to the support of Anglo-Jewry.

“The great friendship between the UK and Israel is largely because of the enormously committed Jewish community here in Great Britain,” he said.

Earlier in Downing Street, Mr Brown had also raised the issue of more accurate labelling of goods from the settlements.

Mr Olmert insisted that the current arrangement — which he negotiated himself with the EU as Trade Minister five years ago — were sufficient.
Other issues discussed included settlement expansion, the intensification of bilateral intelligence co-operation and the long-running issue of the British government’s commitment to prevent senior IDF officers facing arrest for alleged human rights violations while visiting Britain.