UK's Recognition of Palestinian State Marks Major Shift in Foreign Policy to Revive Peace Process
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood signals a significant change in British foreign policy, aiming to restart the stalled peace talks between Israel and Palestine despite strong Israeli opposition.
Reporting from Jerusalem
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement that the UK will recognize Palestinian statehood represents a major shift in British foreign policy.
Starmer offered to delay recognition if Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace," aiming to revive the two-state solution.
Israel immediately rejected this proposal, indicating that Starmer's policy change is irreversible, according to a senior UK official. Although an independent Palestinian state is not expected soon, the move intends to empower moderates on both sides and encourage belief in the possibility of peace.
The path forward is challenging, especially after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people, including Israeli civilians, and Israel's subsequent response that has caused extensive civilian casualties and devastation in Gaza.
Attempts to achieve peace have repeatedly failed, with past negotiations in the 1990s ending in violence and subsequent efforts collapsing.
Minutes after Starmer's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemned the decision, accusing Starmer of rewarding terrorism and threatening British security. Netanyahu dismissed claims that Israel caused starvation in Gaza and emphasized his government’s opposition to Palestinian independence, relying on support from ultra-nationalist extremists.
Netanyahu has long opposed the two-state solution, describing a Palestinian state as a platform for attacks on Israel. He expects strong backing from the US government, which currently views Palestinian recognition as a reward for Hamas terrorism. Former President Donald Trump also expressed disapproval of the UK’s move.
Palestinian sovereignty has become a contentious issue, potentially straining transatlantic relations. Starmer was previously hesitant but was moved by images of starving Palestinian children in Gaza, which hardened attitudes within the UK government and Labour Party.
The UK’s decision to join France in recognizing Palestine signals Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation. Both countries, permanent UN Security Council members, have dismissed Israeli efforts to block recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.
At a UN conference supporting a two-state solution, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy received applause for announcing Britain’s decision. He rejected claims that Palestinian statehood threatens Israel, stating support for Israel’s security is compatible with supporting Palestinian independence. Lammy criticized Netanyahu’s rejection of the two-state solution as morally and strategically wrong.
Lammy acknowledged Britain’s historical role in the region, recalling the 1917 Balfour Declaration that supported a Jewish national home but promised to protect the rights of non-Jewish communities—a promise he described as a historical injustice that continues today.
Britain aims to address this injustice and end the conflict by reviving the two-state solution. The conference, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, produced a document outlining steps toward peace, including condemnation of Hamas’s attacks.
Though the peace process has long seemed locked, the UK’s recognition of Palestine is intended as a diplomatic lever to reopen dialogue.
Keir Starmer’s recognition of Palestine marks a historic shift in UK policy, aiming to empower moderates and revive the two-state solution despite strong opposition from Israel, signaling a new diplomatic push for peace in the Middle East.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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