Israeli officials said the European Union has accepted an Israeli request to delay a high-profile summit in order to give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu time to formulate his Middle East peace policy.

The delay comes ahead of a planned trip to Europe next week by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

The minister's critical comments about Arabs and the Middle East peace process have raised international concerns about the new government's intentions.

Netanyahu has so far refused to endorse the idea of an independent Palestinian state.

He is expected to unveil his foreign policy before heading to Washington in mid-May.

In the meantime, the Foreign Ministry says the EU has agreed to postpone a summit on Israeli-Europe relations from May to June.