By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Peace between Israel and the Palestinians is a prerequisite for ensuring stability in the Middle East, Britain's foreign minister said Monday.
Margaret Beckett and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema also hailed the recent progress in securing a Palestinian coalition government after talks at her country residence, 50 kilometers southeast of London
"We will never get peace and stability in the region as a whole, unless we move forward on this particular, very, very difficult issue," Beckett said at a news conference, praising the "encouraging" announcement of a Palestinian coalition government between the moderate Fatah and militant Hamas parties, a deal that many have interpreted to imply recognition of Israel.
"There seems to be a gleam of hope," D'Alema concurred, adding that a revival of the peace process would work to isolate extremists in the region.