Ramat Gan, central Israel - 24 June 2018

1. UK Ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey walking into room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"It is a celebration of the strength of our contemporary relationship, between the UK and Israel. We've have never had such a strong relationship in terms of trade, investment, science and technology. We also work closely together against terrorism and other shared threats, so it's the right moment - we think - for a visit to really shine a light on that relationship and show how strong the contemporary relationship is between the two countries."

3. Close up of the ambassador's hands

4. Quarrey sitting in interview

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"The British government policy has been consistent regarding Jerusalem for years, for decades in fact, and absolutely nothing has changed regarding our policy, and the description for example of the Prince's visit reflected decades of terminology used by British governments. It is important to emphasise that the Duke is not a political figure, this is not a political visit."

6. Ambassador sitting during interview

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"We have a different view than the government of Israel does, that's clear. There are many, many things that we and the government of Israel agree on and there are many things that we work together on. There are some issues that we take a different view on and I think that's characteristic of a deep mature relationship as we have between the two countries."

8. Ambassador seated, at work

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"The Duke is very clear that he wants to come and get under the skin of the country, he wants to get a feel for Israel, he wants to get a flavour of the country, he doesn't just want to come and sit in meeting rooms and do what many visitors do. He actually wants to get out there and experience the place, including in particular meeting young people here."

10. Quarrey sitting and writing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"I shall be watching the football match, we are going to have a two-hour pause this afternoon in our visit preparations to allow us all to be cheering on England against Panama and then we will be back to work this evening preparing for the visit, but I'm afraid there is no way, I mean the Duke is a massive football fan so I'm sure he will following it closely and there is no way the embassy won't be watching the football this afternoon."

12. Union Jack flying on top of the ambassador's residence

13. Wide of the entrance to the ambassador's residence

14. Flags of Israel and the UK in street

the UK's Prince William's upcoming visit to Israel will be a "celebration of the strength" of the current relationship between the two countries, the UK ambassador to Israel said on Sunday.

Prince William is set to arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week for the first official visit of a member of the British royal family, ending the monarchy's decades-long, mostly hands-off approach to one of the world's most sensitive regions.

In an interview with the Associated Press, David Quarrey said nothing has changed in British government policy regarding Jerusalem and emphasised the trip by the Duke of Cambridge "is not a political visit."

However, Israeli media reported that some of the terminology used in the itinerary of the Royal visit, describing Jerusalem as occupied territories angered Jerusalem Affairs Minister, Zeev Elkin.

Quarrey said the description of the Prince's visit "reflected decades of terminology used by British governments," adding that "absolutely nothing has changed" as far as the UK's policy regarding Jerusalem was concerned.

The Duke of Cambridge will be meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and visiting landmark Jerusalem sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not internationally recognized.

Israel considers the city, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicentre of the conflict, as an inseparable part of its capital.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as a future capital.

The prince kicks off his Middle East four-day visit Sunday in Jordan, arriving in Jerusalem on Monday before travelling on to coastal Tel Aviv and Ramallah in the West Bank.

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