LONDON: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce on Sunday (Sep 21) Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a break with long-standing policy despite stiff opposition from Israel and disapproval from the United States, the UK’s closest ally.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed that Starmer would announce his decision later on Sunday and said any recognition should be seen as part of a peace process leading to an eventual two-state solution.
Britain is expected to join more than 140 other members of the United Nations which have recognised a Palestinian state. But its decision carries symbolic weight as Britain has long been a key ally of Israel and played a key role in its creation as a modern nation in the aftermath of World War Two.
A number of other countries including France, Canada, Australia and Belgium are also expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Any step to recognise (a Palestinian state) is because we wish to keep alive the prospects of a two-state solution,” Lammy told Sky News.
In a move that put Starmer at odds with US President Donald Trump, Britain issued Israel with an ultimatum in July saying it would recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel took steps to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza.
GAZA CEASEFIRE IN TATTERS, SAYS LAMMY
Starmer said in July that Britain would recognise Palestine unless Israel reached a ceasefire with Hamas, let more aid into Gaza, made clear there would be no annexation of the West Bank, and committed to a peace process delivering a two-state solution – a Palestinian state co-existing alongside Israel.
“Since that announcement in July, in fact, with the attack on Qatar, a ceasefire at this point lays in tatters, and the prospects are bleak,” Lammy said, noting Israel had also moved forward with a settlement plan.
Lammy said it was important to draw a distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people. He told the BBC: “Do we say we have to wait for the perfect conditions before we can recognise a Palestinian state … Do we say to them: ‘No you cannot have that Palestinian state that is your dream’?”
