Britain will recognize the Palestinian state in September if Israel does not end its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday, BTA reports.
This statement made by the Prime Minister represents a significant change in Britain's long-standing position, writes the British newspaper "Guardian". According to the newspaper, this is in fact an official political recognition of the Palestinians' right to self-determination, without the need for London to engage in complex practical issues such as precise territorial borders or a capital.
The British publication adds that one of the factors behind Starmer's decision was "the tacit green light that US President Donald Trump gave Starmer on Monday". Then, when asked whether the prime minister should recognize Palestine, the American president replied that he "doesn't mind if Starmer takes a stand". On the other hand, the European edition of the magazine "Politico" commented that Starmer made his decision, prompted by his own Labor Party and the decision of France to also recognize the Palestinian statehood.
The magazine notes that this move represents a serious turn in British policy in the Middle East and was made after intensive lobbying by MPs from Starmer's ruling Labor Party.
"The Guardian" also published a survey by the company "Survation", according to which 49% of Britons are in favor, and only 13% are against, the recognition of the Palestinian state. The survey also shows that by a margin of almost five to one, people want the government to be more critical of Israel's actions in Gaza.
Another British newspaper, the – – – – – Telegraph–, however, wrote that Starmer's promise to recognize the State of Palestine if Israel fails to meet a number of conditions is – – neither realistic nor justifiable–. According to the publication – – Starmer's demands will be met with cynicism in Jerusalem and resemble an ultimatum addressed to only one side, with an arbitrarily chosen deadline of the UN General Assembly session in September–.
– Telegraph– also points out that while the Hamas group, which started the war on October 7, 2023, is going through the motions, Israel is forced to take full responsibility for ending it.
The British newspaper "Independent" quoted Dr. Julie Norman, an associate professor at University College London and a specialist in Middle East affairs, as saying that it is likely that London will recognize Palestine as a state and the issue will be voted on at the UN, but it is unlikely that the UN will be able to recognize Palestinian statehood due to the possibility of the US blocking this step.
According to her, "in the short term, this represents a diplomatic position that allows for changes in the country's policy".
"But if and when the parties come together to discuss the conflict in the long term, this will put Palestine in a better position. So recognition won't change things immediately, but I think it will still have some effect," she says.
Vincent Feene, a former British consul general in Jerusalem, also spoke to the publication, explaining that recognizing Palestine would mean that if Palestinian passports were issued, they would subsequently be recognized by Britain as passports of a state. According to him, such a move would in no way negatively affect the British system for providing international protection, through an influx of Palestinian refugees or anything else.
Sir Vincent added that it was "very important" to also make a distinction between recognizing an independent political entity, Palestine, and recognizing separate wings of the government.
"It is important to note that the British government does not recognize governments, but states. "So it does not actually recognise Palestinian President (Mahmoud) Abbas as the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the leader of the Palestinian Authority," he added.
According to the American newspaper "The New York Times", Starmer's request is a sharp, if not completely unexpected, change in his position, reflecting the intense political pressure his government is under. The newspaper quoted critics of Britain's actions as saying that Palestinian statehood should not be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations. Others said that it would do nothing to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and would deprive Britain of leverage it could use on the Israeli government at a later stage of the crisis.
"I understand the impulse, but I don't see the benefit", Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Security told the New York Times.
The American publication also draws attention to the fact that the British government actually played a central role in the creation of Israel, declaring in 1917 that it supported the creation of a "national home for the Jewish people" in what was then Palestine. In addition, the publication notes that after France announced last week its intention to recognize a Palestinian state, both countries will send a political message, but the change in their position will also have practical significance. They will join China and Russia in recognizing Palestine and will leave the United States as the only permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power that opposes Palestinian statehood.