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Gordon Brown today balanced a threat of new sanctions against Iran with a tough message that Israel should do more to help improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians.
Describing himself as a "friend of Israel," the Prime Minister used the first ever speech by a British leader to the Knesset to condemn statements by the Iranian President which appeared to threaten to destroy Israel.
Mr Brown combined his criticism of Iran with a pledge to form an alliance with Tel Aviv against terrorism, the strongest statement of friendship towards Israel since Mr Brown took power.
However, he balanced his message by claiming the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, were the "best partners in a generation" with which to negotiate peace, and urged Israel not to expand settlements - a call greeted with jeers from a minority in the building.
Mr Brown used the majority of his speech, however, to talk about his friendship with Israel, and pledged never to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
"We say with one voice: it is totally abhorrent for the president of Iran to call for Israel to be wiped from the map of the world," he said.
"Our country will continue to lead, with the United States and our European partners, in our determination to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons programme. We stand ready to lead in taking further sanctions, and will ask the whole international community to join us.
"Iran has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear weapons programme and accept our offer of negotiations, or face growing isolation and the collective response, not just of one nation, but of all nations round the world."
This morning, The Times reported that Tehran faced a series of sanctions against its oil and gas industries unless it halts attempts to develop its atomic capacity. Diplomatic sources said that the US and Britain had agreed on setting a deadline for Iran of two weeks for the Islamic Republic to halt the enriching of uranium.
The Prime Minister was heckled when he raised the need for the halting of settlement-building in the occupied West Bank. He called on Israel to agree to "freezing and withdrawing from settlements" and to do more to help the Palestinians improve their economy.
"Without compromising your needs for security, we need your help in easing the obstacles to Palestinian economic growth," he said.
Although veiled, the remark was a clear reference to one of the main Palestinian complaints against Israel: that of security checks and restrictions which severely limit economic opportunities in the occupied territories.

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July 22, 1946 King David Hotel bombed - 91 killed
July 20, 2006 The Times reports anniversary of this act of terror commemorated in Israel.
Gordon Brown stayed there during his visit.
Jan Jansen, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mr. Brown does not have the right to confirm to the Zionists that they can live forever on the land where my parents were ethnically cleansed, as he does not own this land nor does his government. Ignoring the Palestinian NAKBA and the historical responsibility of Britain thereof does not help.
saleh darwish, Amman, Jordan
I am so very confused about all this "wipe Israel off the face of the earth buissness". That is not what the Iranian president said, he was quoted as saying he wanted to "wipe Zionism off the face of the earth", two very diffrent things.
Ollie, London, UK
If i were Mr Brown, i'd start a brand new initiative called: "putting britain first" and focusing on the issues that effect britain, from crime to the economy, from tackling waste in the public sector to resolving energy needs.
He has the ability, we're all waiting for him to do something.
Ian, uk,
Iran doesn't want nuclear bombs anyway
hether, boston, uk
The Palestinians got £30Million in assistance from Britain and Israel £30Billion from America.
George, london, uk
But Mr Brown +others, you're not making logical sense.
Do you believe in our nuclear deterrent or not?
If you do - then Iran having the biggest stockpile in the world is not a problem as our nukes DETER an attack.
If you don't - then admit deterrence is flawed and get rid of ours.
Which is it?
Laura Roberts, London, UK
Here he goes again! Is he setting himself up for a lucrative lecture around the world, when he is kicked out of office? Prancing and posturing on the world stage when he has no mandate and can't solve his own country's problem let alone any others! Send him back for early retirement to Scotland!
Trevor Dee, Torbay, UK
Nobody has provided any proof that Iran is building nuclear weapons. Iran's "nookular" bombs are as imagnary as Saddam's were. Indeed the only grounds anyone has to suspect that Iran might build nuclear weapons under their reactor is that Israel has been doing so for the last 20 years.
stanzler, ny, usa
I would be more impressed with these comments if the spelling was correct. "Briton" is a country? "Mr Brown's pleadge?" And what on earth is a "hard neck?"
Norman, Anstruther, United Kingdom
Why do politicians need to declare that they are 'friends of Israel' when Israel is in defiance of, and, treat with contempt, so many UN resolutions? (We won't bother discussing their treatment of the Palestinians here!) Perhaps Iran would not be seeking a nuclear option, if Israel did not have one!
Kevin Sullivan, ROEHAMPTON, UK
Briton is a country with gradually weak international influence and a series of domestic problems. But the governmnet is still so arrogant to DO something in the complicated Mid-East. It's 2008 other than 1908 or 1808.
Ran, York, UK
Why are you calling Israel "Tel Aviv"? Should we be calling the UK "Birmingham"? Or the US "New York"?! Brown was actually giving his speech in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament,which is situated in the country's one and only capital, Jerusalem.
Shalom Lev, Ganei Tikva, Israel
I am sure that the Iranians pay as much heed to Brown as did Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far', is a saying accredited to Teddy Roosevelt. Conversely, Brown talks tough, is impotent and is going nowhere.
He's just an embarrassment.
Rick, London, England
It's hard to undersand how our PM Gordon Brown could help
stoping Iran, from what it says about Israel getting rid of Israel
from map of Earth?
Although this problem was created by PM Clement Attlee,
in 1848, but today we have, born and bred people in Israel ?
How to make Iran understand
Cllr Ken Tiwari (Independent), Oxford , United Kingdom
It's a bit of a hard neck, denying a country the right to have Nuclear weapons when you have yourself. Talking to Iran would be a better idea, the people of Iran are Ok its the ones running it who are crazy like Brown, Tony , George Bush and Maggie, all warmongers.
Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain
1) We already have plenty of nuclear weapons
2) Mr Brown is perfectly capable of destroying any country with his social and financial policies.
stuart, london, UK
Mr Brown's pleadge that Britain would lead the charge for further sanctions is silly. As the US and the European Union are already in the front, is Britain going to elbow them to the side. So of Mr Brown's rhetoric is simply rubbish.
Joan Jefferson, London, UK
If we thought the oil price is high now, you can just imagine how hight it would rise to , if there was an attack on Iran by Israel.
Clive, Dartford, Kent
While Mr Brown is free to be 'friends' with whoever he pleases on a personal level, I sincerely hope that this un-elected halfwit is not positioning the nation for yet another protracted conflict in the Middle East.
Dan, Bristol,
Keep him there !!!! I am sure the Iranians are trembling in their shoes !!!!
ian payne, walsall,