CLUCKING HELL
Boris Johnson slammed as he chickens out of criticising Trump in Middle East speech
Foreign Secretary said America moving its embassy from Tel Aviv was 'not helpful' - but only after he forgot to make rebuke in his landmark speech
BORIS Johnson was slammed for leaving out criticism of Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
In a landmark speech today, the Foreign Secretary skipped a passage on the US President's controversial announcement last night — which was met with a wave of street protests and condemnation from world leaders.
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He only challenged Mr Trump to “show leadership” in the Middle East after he was asked why the part of his speech devoted to the issue — written in copies handed to attendees — was skipped over.
Mark Regev, Israel's ambassador, was in the front row for the speech in London.
After being prompted, Mr Johnson said that Trump's upending of US foreign policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict was “not helpful”.
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Mr Johnson insisted the US remained the "pre-eminent power" able to exert influence on the Middle East peace process - but said there was now an opportunity for progress to be made.
The minister said: "A lot of people are very excited and interested in possibilities that the American administration, the Trump administration, could bring to the Middle East peace process.
"There is an opportunity, there is a conjuncture of the stars, there is a moment - people think - when progress could be made.”
In the Q&A, he added: "I think this decision having been announced by President Trump, the world would like to see some serious announcements by the US about how they see the Middle East peace process and how to bring the two sides together.
"I think that's what we all want to see. If we are going to have a move of the US embassy, then let's also see some moves towards the long overdue resolution of the Middle East peace process."
Mr Johnson stressed that the Government stuck by its position that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved as part of a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
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He added: "I view premature recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moves of embassies as not helpful in this context.
“It's something we want to do but it cannot be done until you have progress towards a two-state solution.
"I don't think it's the right thing to do. I recognise of course that, by act of Congress, America is committed to doing it since 1995 in principle.
"But I think America and all her allies have for a long time thought that was a card that should not be played until we could use it as an incentive to get the peace process moving."
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At the same time as the speech there was an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on the embassy move to Jerusalem.
Answering, the Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said other countries would now have to come forward to fill the "trust deficit" the US had created in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
But the Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the Government had been "made to look like fools"; by Mr Trump, and Britain needed leaders willing to "stand up to him".
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