United Kingdom Eager to Recognize Palestinian State, Provided Israel Meets Specific Criteria, According to UK's Starmer
In a significant move, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the UK's intention to recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September[1]. This decision comes as France's President Emmanuel Macron made a similar commitment, signifying growing European support for Palestinian statehood.
The announcement was made by Keir Starmer in a press briefing after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The prime minister called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to halt the ongoing violence and for unfettered UN humanitarian assistance to prevent starvation[1].
The UK's potential recognition would mark a significant shift in European policy, as many European countries have historically refrained from formal recognition despite about three-quarters of UN member states already doing so.
However, the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state is not yet guaranteed. It is contingent upon Israel agreeing to a ceasefire and committing to a long-term sustainable peace[1]. The recognition is also aimed at maximizing the impact for the two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes recognizing a Palestinian state, dismissing France's move as a "reward for terrorism" and emphasizing ongoing challenges posed by Hamas[1]. International support for Israel is reportedly weakening, particularly in Europe, as the Gaza conflict persists.
The US remains the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that has not recognized Palestine, with former President Donald Trump refraining from reaffirming the traditional US two-state solution stance in recent discussions[1].
The pressure on Starmer has increased following France's announcement to recognize a Palestinian state in September. The meeting was called in response to images of people starving in Gaza. Starmer convened a meeting the day after speaking alongside US President Donald Trump in Scotland.
France is the first G7 country to announce its intention to recognize a Palestinian state. The recognition of a Palestinian state is a topic of increasing international attention as it is part of an effort to revive the prospect of a two-state solution.
[1] Source: BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters, and The New York Times.
In the midst of intensifying debates in world politics and general news, the UK's desire to recognize Palestine, following France's lead, denotes a growing international focus on the Middle East, particularly war-and-conflicts and the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Despite Israeli opposition, the potential UK recognition, contingent on a ceasefire and sustainable peace, aims to maximize the impact for the two-state solution, a topic of increasing global interest that aligns with France's recent announcement as the first G7 country to declare such intentions.
