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British leader in Israel for first official visit

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-20 16:11

JERUSALEM -- Gordon Brown has arrived in Israel for his first official visit as Britain's prime minister.

In this image released by the British Ministry of Defence, British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, front left, talks to British soldiers from the 7th Armoured Brigade at the Basra Contingent Operating Base, Iraq, Saturday, July 19, 2008.  [Agencies]

His first stop Sunday was Yad Vashem, Israel's official Holocaust memorial. Later in the day he is to meet with the country's ceremonial president, Shimon Peres. He will also speak at an Israeli-British business conference alongside Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Brown is also set to visit the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, where he will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Brown's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories follows a stop in Iraq, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He will wrap up his visit on Tuesday.