221 members of the UK parliament write letter to PM Sir Keir Starmer, FS David Lammy for recognizing Palestine as a State
LONDON ( WEB NEWS )
221 members of the United Kingdom parliament belonging to nine political parties have written letter to the government for recognizing Palestine as a State.
The parliamentarians have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lindon Lammy for recognition of a Palestinian state.
It has been written in the letter, we write to you in advance of the UN Conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on the 28th-29th July in New York, to put on record our support for UK recognition of a Palestinian state.
It has been said in the letter that we are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality.
It has been said in the letter, whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step.
British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine. Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that Mandate.
This is a cross-party letter to show the support across the House for recognition of a Palestinian state. A two-state solution has been the cross-party consensus for decades.
On the 13th October 2014 the House overwhelmingly moved the following motion: ‘That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.’
That is still the position of the undersigned and we urge you to officially recognise the state of Palestine at the Conference next week.
In an earlier statement after an emergency phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Sir Keir said recognising Palestinian statehood would have to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution”.
In his statement, Sir Keir said: “Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war.
“That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace.
“Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that.
“But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis.”
On Friday evening, Sir Keir said the government would “pull every lever” to get food and life saving support to Palestinians, and evacuate children “who need urgent medical assistance”.
“This humanitarian catastrophe must end,” he added in a post on X. He also said in a video statement the same day that the UK would play a role in air-dropping aid to Palestinians, following Israel’s acceptance of the plan.
“We are already working urgently with the Jordanian authorities to get British aid on to planes and into Gaza,” he said.