Prince William vows to make Palestinian-Israeli conflict resolution lifelong mission

Prince William has vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to finding a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, sources close to the royal family said.

Following a recent visit to Palestine and Israel, the British royal has broken royal protocol on political neutrality to use his platform to bring “peace and prosperity” after being left moved when he witnessed the effects of the decades-long conflict, a palace insider told Sunday Mirror.

“The politicians who affect this younger generation’s lives may only be in office for five, 10 or 20 years – but William knows his duty is for life”, the source said.

During his visit, he recognised Palestine as a country in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He told Abbas he was glad "our two countries work so closely together", an apparent nod to Palestinian statehood on Wednesday.

"My sentiments are the same as yours in hoping that there is a lasting peace in the region," he added, during the meeting in Ramallah.

No British royal has ever made an official visit to Israel, whose occupation of the Palestinian territories is considered illegal by the UK.

William's father, Prince Charles, attended the 2016 funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres in a private capacity.

US President Donald Trump broke with decades of policy in Washington in December by officially recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and pledged to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv.

The move took place on 14 May, amid the deadliest crackdown in years on protests in the Gaza Strip.

The UK - along with other world powers - slammed the US decision to move their embassy, while 128 nations backed a UN resolution rejecting the White House recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The House of Commons passed a Motion calling on the Government to recognise Palestine as an independent state in October 2014.