Boris Johnson says US President Donald Trump's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been "misrepresented" as he calls on Palestinian leaders to do more to further the peace process.
The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's commitment to a two-state solution and said the US policy had not changed, despite signals from President Trump that he could support a one-state solution.
Trump appeared to drop a long-held commitment to establish a Palestinian state when he said he could "live with either one" of the options during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.
Speaking during Foreign Office questions, Scottish MP Martyn Day said: "President Trump has caused great concern for future peace in the Middle East by dismissing a 20-year US commitment to a two-state solution. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that the UK remains committed to a two-state solution and will redouble its efforts on that?"
Johnson said: "Yes, I certainly can, and if I may say Speaker, I think he misrepresents what the US president said."
Shadow foreign minister Fabian Hamilton also pressed Johnson on the issue, describing Trump's words as "deeply disappointing" for the peace process.
"Did Netanyahu give any hint in his recent meeting with the Prime Minister that he too was prepared to live with a one-state solution, and if so, what was her response," he asked.
In reply, Johnson said: "Let's be absolutely clear, what is needed now and I think what both the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and indeed the Palestinians, have all said is that there needs to be dialogue and at the moment I don't think the Palestinians are committing to dialogue in the way that they can and the way that they should.
"It takes two to negotiate in this problem."
