British PM warns Iran in landmark Israel speech

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran on Monday it must freeze sensitive nuclear work or face more sanctions, in the first address by a British premier to the Israeli parliament.

Brown also attacked Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's "abhorrent" threats against Israel and declared that Britain stands alongside the Jewish state.

His comments on Iran's nuclear drive echoed a warning by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Tehran had two weeks to respond seriously to an international offer or face further "punitive measures."

"Iran now has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear program and accept our offer of negotiations or face growing isolation and the collective response not just one nation but of all nations round the world," Brown said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel "highly appreciates" Brown's "determination ... (on the) issue of terrorism and Iranian nuclear armament.

"The most serious threat for stability in the Middle East and the global peace is rooted in ... Tehran," he added.

Brown was introduced by parliament speaker Dalia Itzhik, who evoked the turbulent history of Anglo-Israeli relations.

"The past is for the history box. Today we are partners; we are going towards a better future towards the thriving prosperity of our nations.

The Tehran regime is "inciting genocide and they are about to complete the last stages of nuclear weaponry. Many are trying to reassure us that the Shoah (Holocaust) will not be repeated."

Brown's spokesman said the premier did not rule out "extended sanctions in some form on the oil and gas sector" in Iran, OPEC's number two producer.

Sources said that could involve sanctions on spare parts for Tehran's fairly limited domestic oil refining capacity.

Right to exist

In his speech, Brown also took on Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly attacked Israel's right to exist and said it should be wiped off the map.

"To those who question Israel's very right to exist, and threaten the lives of your citizens through terror, we say: the people of Israel have a right to live here, to live freely and to live in security.

"And to those who believe that threatening statements fall upon indifferent ears, we say in one voice: it is totally abhorrent for the president of Iran to call for Israel to be wiped from the map of the world."

On Sunday, Brown visited Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

He praised the achievements of the Jewish people over the century in spite of persecution and also Israel's achievements in the 60 years since the state's creation.

"To have achieved all this in the face of the war, terror and violence, intimidation and insecurity is truly monumental," he said.

"Let me tell the people of Israel today: Britain is your true friend."

Brown was on his first visit to Israel and the West Bank since becoming prime minister in June 2007. On Sunday he called on Israel to halt new settlement building on occupied land and pledged new aid to the Palestinians to help kick-start their economy.