UK officially recognises Palestine — what it means and all you need to know
UK officially recognises Palestine — what it means and all you need to know
Posted by theipaper
UK officially recognises Palestine — what it means and all you need to know
UK officially recognises Palestine — what it means and all you need to know
Posted by theipaper
9 comments
The UK has officially recognised the state of Palestine in a symbolic move of support, as the [death toll](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/british-surgeon-gaza-palestinians-shot-aid-sites-game-3825359?srsltid=AfmBOoo_MBuq8E0G9Psb1DTpiv6bMxWbAAi-V5zvqZfzDaAuHeeYksEv&ico=in-line_link) in Gaza continues to rise.
Sir Keir Starmer announced in July that he was preparing to officially recognise the state, but only if Israel failed to meet certain conditions, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Prime Minister said the UK was recognising Palestine in order to “keep alive the possibility of peace” in the face “of the growing horror in the Middle East”.
He said: “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clear as Prime Minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.
“We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people.
“Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also.
“A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to calls from world leaders to recognise Palestine, branding it an “absurd reward for terrorism”.
Israel has also argued there is no starvation in the enclave and no restrictions on food entering Gaza.
# What does recognition mean ?
Recognition is unlikely to make any tangible difference to the war in Gaza, but is a symbolic gesture of support.
Several previous British governments have [discussed making the move](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/lammy-pushing-starmer-recognition-palestinian-state-now-3826396?srsltid=AfmBOorbTwS6-1-VKrdEDtGA4YV2tp5QiZaPPgybaRmq61NSLQSfMxYK&ico=in-line_link), but wanted it to be part of a peace process.
Prior to recognition from the UK, Palestine was already recognised by 75 per cent of the UN’s 193 member committee.
It has the status of a “permanent observer state”, meaning it is allowed to participate but has no voting rights.
Despite being internationally recognised, competing in sporting events and having diplomatic missions abroad, Palestine has no internally agreed boundaries because of its dispute with Israel.
Israel’s illegal military occupation of the West Bank means that the Palestinian authority, which was set up in the 1990s, does not have full control over its land and its people.
Husam Zomlot, a Palestinian diplomat in the UK, said that recognition would “today end the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago in 1914”.
Zomlot was referring to the Balfour Declaration, supported by the UK, which created the Jewish state in 1917.
The Declaration established “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine with a promise that the rights of non-Jewish communities would not be infringed.
“I think today the British people should celebrate a day when history is corrected”, said Zomlot, “when wrongs are being righted, when recognition of the wrongs of the past are beginning to be corrected, and when taking responsibility of that colonial era”.
Terrible decision. Hamas laughing. Labour going against the majority yet again to appease a minority.
Still selling military items to Israel, still not sanctioning them
“What it means?”. Nothing. This is a feel-good measure to appease an internal audience by saying “look, we are helping”, without having to actually do anything to help improve the situation. Before anyone comes in and says that, yes, this is a moral victory for the Palestinian cause or that it opens the road for peace in the future, I want you to explain to me how it achieves any of that.
I think what’s interesting about the statement is that it doesn’t mention *who* they’re recognizing as the State of Palestine. It just says they formally recognize a state of Palestine. But who are they talking about? A state isn’t some nebulous concept: it’s a polity run by real people. When you recognize a state, you recognize a government that effectively runs territory as a sovereign state, not just a sub-national or breakaway entity.
The Republic of Artsakh, when it existed before the Azeris ethnically cleansed them, or the Republic of Somaliland, both justify recognition as sovereign states better than the “State of Palestine,” which has 100 embassies abroad and no real control anywhere it claims as its own territory.
Good. Israel needs to understand that its actions have consequences.
It feels performative to state a recognition for Palestine that doesn’t acknowledge the government of Palestine is split between two groups hostile to each other.
Saying the words “two-state solution” is like a balm for first world countries whose citizens don’t want to engage with the brick-wall that is “negotiating” and “holding peace talks”.
It comes across as these nations needing to make these statements to placate their internal divisions.
It’s hard to imagine a different outcome than further simmering war when the negotiating points — right of return and land transfer of Jerusalem — aren’t acceptable for Israel.
Typical Brittish divide and conquer. Thats why they made the two states so they could control Israel forever.
I don’t think it means much right now whilst Israel is so militarily powerful and US will support them no matter the consequences. In a few decades when Israel implodes in on itself and the US finally breaks free, having Europe recognising the Palestinian state may help that state assert itself. If Israel continues on its current trajectory, both politically and demographically, it might be that Europe/US/the Arab world need to work together to contain it to maintain stability and keep the oil flowing.
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