As the UN General Assembly sessions approach, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal have recognized Palestinian statehood, further angering Israel, Reuters reports.
The moves by pro-Israel countries to recognize Palestinian statehood come after a long-running struggle to stabilize the human rights situation in the Palestinian enclave, which is besieged by Israeli forces and has been plagued by reports of war crimes, possible genocide and severe famine. Britain’s decision is particularly symbolic, having played a major role in the creation of Israel as a state after World War II.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that formal recognition of Palestine would bring renewed hope to both Palestinians and Jews, and renewed hope that a two-state solution is possible. “TThe man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths. The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable,” Starmer said.
It is expected that other countries, including France, will follow suit.
The development has provoked a sharp reaction from Israeli officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that any country that recognizes Palestine is rewarding terrorism. He added that there will never be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.
Meanwhile, Britain has warned Israel not to plan to annex parts of the West Bank in response to the decision to recognize Palestine, writes the BBC. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the British had made it clear that the decision was the best way to create security for Israel while also creating a safe environment for the Palestinians. The minister added that extremists on both sides were trying to prevent a two-state solution, but Britain had a moral obligation to restore it: “The easy thing to do would be to just walk away and to say well it is all just too hard. We just think that is wrong when we’ve seen such devastation, such suffering. Just as we recognise Israel, the state of Israel … so we must also recognise the rights for the Palestinians to a state of their own as well.”
The British Foreign Office said it would seek international agreement on guidelines for peace in the Middle East.
France will co-chair a meeting on the two-state solution at the UN General Assembly. The French pledged to recognise Palestine in July, and Belgium is expected to announce its decision soon.
Starmer, announcing the recognition of Palestine, said that formal recognition of statehood meant that the terrorist group Hamas would have no say in the future of a Palestinian state, its government or its security. This echoed a statement from the British Foreign Office ahead of the General Assembly. The Foreign Office said that Cooper would use the meeting to ensure that terrorists such as Hamas were not given any role in a future Palestinian state.
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