Brown due for talks in Israel, West Bank (AFP)

by Robin Millard 14 minutes ago JERUSALEM (AFP) - Gordon Brown prepared for talks on Sunday during his first visit to Israel and the West Bank since becoming prime minister in a bid to bolster peace negotiations and economic development. Brown was to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an attempt to revitalise the sluggish peace process between the two sides and push his "economic roadmap" to peace via giving Palestinians a financial stake in the territories' future. He has been invited to address the Israeli parliament on Monday -- the first time a British prime minister will have spoken to the Knesset. Brown flew in to Tel Aviv late Saturday on a previously unannounced visit, having made a surprise trip to Baghdad and Basra in southern Iraq earlier in the day. Brown was due to speak to Israel's President Shimon Peres... [read full story]