Sharon keeps UK waiting

Relations between Israel and the UK are under pressure

The UK's ambassador to Israel is now expected to meet Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon at the weekend over his ban on Palestinian delegates travelling to London next week.

The meeting has been put off three times, with Downing Street blaming Israel's election campaign for the delay.

Prime Minister Tony Blair wants Mr Sharon to lift the ban in order to allow Palestinian delegates to attend a conference on reforming the Palestinian authority.

It's about beginning to get the dialogue going that we need in the Middle East

Bill Rammell
Foreign Office Minister

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday's conference would go ahead despite the travel ban on Palestinian officials.

Part of the conference will be conducted by telephone link to the Palestinians.

Mr Straw said he regretted the Israeli decision but efforts to bring fresh momentum to Palestinian reform could still continue.

"This is an important initiative," he said. "The reform agenda matters too much for us to allow it to become stalled. It is vital to the search for peace."

The affair has led to suggestions of friction between the UK and Israel.

Israeli officials say members of Yasser Arafat's government are the wrong people to talk about Palestinian reform.

The UK ambassador to Israel, Sherard Cowper-Coles, had been due to meet Mr Sharon on Wednesday to deliver a letter from Mr Blair.

Frantic

When that meeting was called off, it was rescheduled for Thursday and then Friday.

Mr Cowper-Coles is now expected to see Mr Sharon on Sunday.

Mr Blair's spokesman said on Friday: "The pace of the Israeli election has been quite frantic over the last few days and we understand from the prime minister's office that he does want to see the ambassador personally to explain the Israeli government's position."

But the Israeli premier's office has told Downing Street Mr Sharon has no intention of lifting the ban.

Number 10 said preparations for the conference were continuing.

Delegates from the US, Russia, the United Nations and European Union, as well as other interested parties, are due to attend.

Clash

Mr Sharon banned the Palestinians from attending the conference after a double suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

The move prompted a telephone clash between Mr Straw and his Israeli counterpart Binjamin Netanyahu.

Relations were strained further when Mr Blair met Amram Mitzna, leader of Israel's opposition Labour Party, on Thursday.

Last month, Mr Netanyahu was refused a meeting with Mr Blair when he visited London.