Last week a group of officials, businessmen, academics and diplomats gathered in London for a supposedly frank assessment of the Britain-GCC relationship as it has evolved since 1971. No one was in a celebratory mood.

The general consensus was that the relationship is strong but not strong enough. It is deep-rooted but politically fragile. Government-to-government relation is certainly vast, trade and investment figures are impressive and promising, 160,000 Britons live in the Gulf, mostly in the UAE, and millions of GCC citizens visit London for the summer vacation every year.

Yet the political aspect of the Britain-GCC relationship is too weak to sustain the current call for a lasting strategic partnership.

There is plenty of work to be done on both sides to overcome some serious concerns, flashpoints and unresolved issues that keep them apart. Much of these issues have to do with creeping mistrust, misperception and the impact of current political issues on the relationship.

The first area of concern is the prevailing British perception of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which is stuck in the pre-1971 era. The six Arab Gulf States have come a long way and changed beyond recognition over the past 50 years.

The 2010 Gulf is a vastly different region from the 1971 Gulf. Yet the new socioeconomic realities have not been fully understood and recognised either by the media or by the decision-makers — and even less so by the general public — in Britain.

As a result what is missing from the Britain-GCC relationship is a proper appreciation and respect of the changing Gulf.

Some in Britain do not want to let go of the past and admit that the former colonies are no longer colonies.

Condescending attitude

Others do not want to believe that we are equals. Britain still has a condescending attitude towards the Arab Gulf, and Arabs in general.

The formidable British media is dismissive and outright orientalist in its coverage of GCC affairs.

The Arab Gulf states are often viewed as traditional, tribal, backward and weak ducklings, in need of protection.

The most sophisticated academic version of this perception sees the Gulf as nothing but a huge oil reserve waiting to be exploited.

This is a serious issue which has to do with appreciation and respect. There is no ground for deepening the current relationship if genuine respect is absent.

The second issue is just as troubling and has to do with the GCC view of a shrinking Britain which is bound to shrink even more in light of the latest budget cuts introduced by the Conservative-led government.

One thing is clear; Britain is a diminishing power living on borrowed money and borrowed time. The once cool Britannia and intimidating Britain is becoming increasingly irrelevant politically.

But this is just a minor issue. The real concern has to do with Britain turning on itself and giving up on its principles.

Xenophobic sentiment

Once a land of tolerance, it is becoming less and less tolerant of other faiths, cultures, nationalities and, strangely enough, of its own citizens. Most of this intolerance and xenophobic sentiment is directed against Arabs and Muslims.

The general public in Britain and throughout Europe is constantly bombarded with fear of Islam and supposed "jihad by stealth" aimed at destroying Western civilisation.

Finally, the biggest obstacle to improving the Britain-GCC relationship has to do with the country's never- ending support for Israel's occupation of Palestine and its daily brutal treatment of Palestinians.

This is a major source of tension between Britain and the GCC. It is very difficult for Arabs to forget that Britain as a colonial power promised Palestine to European Jews.

Britain and the West in general have made it appear that Israel is an extension of the political West. What is expected from Britain is to undo what is has historically done and put a leash on the beast that is now Israel.

It is essential for British and Gulf officials to attend to the political aspect of the relationship. They need to address the issues of the moment candidly.

These issues should not be pushed under the rug. To start with, the relationship needs a strong dose of mutual respect. Both sides must confront the extremists in their midst and prevent them from dictating the agenda. But above all the GCC expects Britain to be much more forthcoming when it comes to the Palestinian issue and be courageous to act independently from Washington when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The GCC delegates attending last week's London gathering made it amply clear that the ball is squarely in Britain's court. They were hoping that it does not stay there for too long.

Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdullah is Professor of Political Science, Emirates University.