The United Kingdom will formally recognize a Palestinian state more than 100 years after the Balfour Declaration supported “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” and 77 years after Israel was established in the British Mandate of Palestine.
Two days before the start of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session, which will focus on preserving Palestinian sovereignty after decades of occupation and apartheid, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to make the announcement on Sunday.
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The UK government announced in July that it would reverse its long-standing policy of preventing recognition until a rumored moment of maximum impact unless Israel renounces its two-state solution, commits to a long-term sustainable peace process, and allows more aid into the region.
The Israeli military continues to systematically destroy Gaza City to seize it, while continuing to starve and relocate the enclave’s famine-stricken population, which has only become significantly worse over the past few weeks.
Israel is advancing its plans to annexe the Palestinian territory and “bury” the idea of a contiguous Palestinian state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as daily raids by Israeli soldiers and settlers across the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli government has attacked the UK allies and more than 75% of the UN member states, claiming that their stance “rewards terrorism.”
The deputy prime minister of the UK said on Sunday that recognizing a Palestinian state would not “overnight” bring one into existence, underscoring the position of his government that recognizing it must be a part of a wider peace process, which has been in a moribund state for decades.
Any action to acknowledge it is necessary to maintain the prospects of a two-state solution, David Lammy told Sky News.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch proclaimed her desire for a two-state solution in the area, but she also indicated that she wants to work with Israel and the United States, its illustrious military, financial, and political backers.
She wrote in The Telegraph over the weekend that it is obvious that the US has made it clear that recognizing a Palestinian state at this time and without the hostages’ release would be a reward for terrorism.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, disagreed with recognition during a meeting with Starmer and a state visit to the UK last week.
The UK government should be held accountable for the decision, according to some of the relatives of the Israeli prisoners who were held in Gaza, and they wrote to the prime minister in an open letter on Saturday, warning them not to do so until the remaining 48 prisoners, about 20 of whom are alleged to be alive, are returned.
According to the article, “dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones” were made, and Hamas is celebrating its “victory.”
In a meeting held in London earlier this month, Starmer and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas argued that Hamas should not be a part of Palestine’s future leadership. Israel has stated that it will prevent Hamas and the PA from taking any sort of leadership in the future.
According to British media, the UK government is also considering taking additional measures to punish Hamas in the upcoming weeks. In the UK and a large portion of the West, the group has long been formally viewed as a “terrorist” organization.
Despite growing numbers of trustworthy international organizations and investigations, including a UN inquiry, the government has continued to fund Israel during the two-year conflict.
More and more world powers have recognized Palestine.
With the UK’s announcement, 148 of the 193 UN member states will grant Palestinian statehood, and more will follow soon.
Both France and Portugal are preparing to make a formal announcement. In light of the Gaza war, which has so far claimed more than 65, 000 Palestinian lives, they join Spain, Ireland, Norway, and other countries in making the move.
The US will remain the only permanent member of the UN Security Council who refuses to recognize Palestinian sovereignty after the UK and France’s moves are finalized.
Germany has also objected, claiming that the necessary requirements are currently being met.
A delayed one-day summit between France and Saudi Arabia will take place in New York City on Monday to discuss advancing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Source: Aljazeera
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