Nick Clegg, the coalition's Deputy Prime Minister is a big hit at the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel fringe meeting at the LibDems annual conference

Nick Clegg, the coalition's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, attended the Liberal Democrats Friends of Israel fringe meeting on Monday 20 September alongside LDFI President Sir Alan Beith MP, the President of the New Israel Fund, Professor Naomi Chazam, and the new Deputy Israeli Ambassador to the UK Alon Roth-Snir. The event was hosted by the long-time chair of LDFI, Monroe Palmer OBE. There was speculation amongst some party members about whether Mr Clegg would indeed arrive at the meeting, given his visit to the UN this week for a meeting on the Millennium Development Goals. He did, however, arrive on time to deliver a short yet highly suggestive speech to a tightly packed audience hanging on his every word with great anticipation. His speech indicated to many previous supporters a shift in his views on the Middle East, evidence, perhaps, of his evolving persona as he deals with the new politics of the coalition government.

He began by thanking the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel for all the work it had done to promote the organisation within the party; in doing so he acknowledged that the party and LDFI did not always see eye to eye. He described himself and "many, many" Lib Dem members as "real admirers of the democratic traditions and liberal ethos of life within Israel' and went on to say that this was a period of "immense delicacy" as talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority take place. He was "acutely aware" that all "we" can do is to create the conditions helpful to negotiations. The only time Mr Clegg referred directly to Palestine was when he noted how much depended on the talks: "So much hinges on the talks, not only the security and safety of the Israeli people which has been under constant threat... but the prosperity and safety and stability and future of the Palestinian communities."

The Liberal Democrat friends of Israel exist to support and promote policies which lead to peace and security for Israel in the context of a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace settlement. They are strongly committed to a two state solution, with Israel living in secure borders, free from the threat of terrorism, alongside an independent Palestinian State. They work to encourage a strong understanding of Israel unique political situation as the only democracy in the Middle East. They seek to develop a relationship of trust and mutual understanding between the Liberal Democrats and the Jewish Community.