Israel received an influx of British politicians this week in a series of cross-party delegations.

With Parliament in recess, the inaugural Britain-Israel Peers Group travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories with 11 members of the House of Lords.

For many of the Peers it was their first ever trip to the country.

Liberal Democrat Lord Stoneham said: "I thought it was time to come and see what was happening on the ground.

"It's an important time because there is so much instability.

"I have found the Israelis to be much more open and looking for a way forward than I had been led to expect.

"I thought they would be much more guarded and reluctant to talk about problems, like what is happening in the West Bank."

Lord Stoneham, his party's principal business and innovation spokesman, said he was against the boycott campaign.

He explained: "I have my concerns that Israel needs to make progress on the Palestinian question but I'm not in favour of a boycott.

"Boycotting in most countries should be a last resort; dialogue is a lot more important."

Noam Mirvis, who co-led the Peers' trip, said it was important for them "to see the facts on the ground, rather than relying on what they hear and read in the media".

On Wednesday, the Peers' group joined Cabinet Office Minister Matthew Hancock and British business executives in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A separate Conservative Friends of Israel MPs' delegation included the group's vice-chair John Howell and nine Tory colleagues.

They listened to details of plans to combat boycotts of Israel in the UK.

Meanwhile, Labour's Shadow Middle East Minister Diana Johnson was also in the region.

During her trip, in which she met senior Knesset figures including Labour's Isaac Herzog, she also visited Temple Mount, and the Sha'are Zedek hospital in Jerusalem.

Six British trade union activists - members of groups including Unite, Unison and the GMB - flew to the region with the Trade Union Friends of Israel (Tufi) last week.

Tufi director Steve Scott said: "This was a first for Tufi, taking committed activists to the region to learn about the dynamics of the region for themselves.

"They have committed to speak up for Israel and peace within their own unions. We will be working with them to ensure they get all the support they need."