DOMINIC RAAB’S call for peace on his visit to Palestine and Israel rings hollow given Britain’s role in arming the apartheid state, campaigners said today.

The Foreign Secretary met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today to push for a “lasting peace.”

The one-day trip comes a week after a ceasefire brought an end to Israel’s 11-day bombardment of the Gaza strip, which killed 254 people, including 66 children. Twelve Israeli citizens were killed in Hamas rocket fire, including two children. 

Despite the bloodshed, which rights groups suggest could amount to war crimes, Mr Raab boasted of the two countries’ “flourishing relationship” and reiterated Britain’s unwavering support for Israel. 

In the occupied West Bank, Mr Raab said he spoke to Mr Abbas about “the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Israel and Gaza” and “reaffirmed UK support for a two-state solution as the only way to bring sustainable peace.”

But campaigners said the Foreign Secretary’s call for peace “rang hollow given that his government is arming Israel to the hilt and failed to condemn the recent attacks.”

Stop the War co-convener Lindsey German said: “Raab’s visit to Israel is to underline the British government’s support for its policies of siege and bombardment of Gaza, annexation of the West Bank and attacks on Palestinians in Jerusalem.”

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) condemned the British government’s response to Israel’s recent violence as “woefully inadequate.” 

“It is clear that when Raab expresses unwavering support for Israel, what this translates to is unwavering support for violations of international law, the commission of war crimes and the sustenance and expansion of a system of apartheid,” said the campaign group’s director Ben Jamal.