Injustices in the Middle East must be corrected by establishing a "viable" state for Palestinians, according to British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair.
The statement is sure to increase pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon, who has been under extreme international pressure to re-open peace talks with the Palestinians. He is also under pressure at home to resist making concessions to Palestinians.
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British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair greets Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat on his arrival at 10 Downing Street in London. They are meeting to discuss the stalled Middle East peace process and US-led strikes on Afghanistan.
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A far-right bloc within his coalition government resigned today in protest at his decision to ease sanctions against the Palestinians.
The eight seat National Union and Yisrael Beitenu bloc - which combines the most right-wing, anti-Arab elements in parliament - is angry over Sharon's decision to pull the army out of an Arab area in the West Bank city of Hebron which it recently reoccupied.
Prime Minister Sharon will still have more than 70 seats in the 120 seat parliament but the resignation could start whittling away at his majority, ending in the sort of political crisis that forced his predecessor Mr Ehud Barak to call an early election in February.
"Sharon has a good reason to worry some seven months after the election.. the right is outside his government, said Israel Radio political commentator Mr Yaron Dekel.
The US and Britain both recognise that damping down, if not resolving, the long-running Palestinian-Israeli conflict is vital to maintaining a consensus against terrorism that includes Arab and Muslim nations.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell will visit Pakistan to discuss the future administration of Afghanistan.
Pakistan's leader, Gen Pervez Musharraf, will advise Mr Powell an attck on the Taliban leadership will be the best way for the US and British strikes to achieve their goal in the shortest time.
The meeting will cause concern among the Allied Front in Afghanistan who hope to assume power after the expected defeat of the Taliban.
They are concerned Pakistan wants to secure a role in governing Afghanistan and are unhappy that air strikes on Kabul have not been focused on the Taliban forces facing the Allied Front.
Mr Arafat will visit Ireland for a meeting with the Taoiseach Mr Ahern later today.
In the latest incident of Middle East violence a Palestinian militant was shot dead while on the roof of his house in the West Bank.
The victim, Mr Abed-Rahman Hamad, was accused of organising a suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv disco that killed 22 people. He was reported to be a regional leader of the radical Islamic group Hamas.
Additional reporting PA