UK opposition leader Keir Starmer would like to recognise a Palestinian state if he came to power in the upcoming general election, according to Reuters.
Starmer also claimed on Friday that such a move should be made at the right time as part of the peace process. Recently, Ireland, Spain, and Norway announced that they would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28. In response, Israel recalled its ambassadors from the three capitals.
Yes, I do, and I think recognition of Palestine is extremely important. We need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel, and recognition has to be part of that.
The Labour Party has been experiencing an internal struggle over the war in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, which led to a retaliatory strike by Israel. Starmer has been facing criticism by some traditional Labour voters for shifting the party’s position towards supporting a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip only gradually.
As a result, 10 senior party lawmakers left their political ranks. They faced accusations of a series of disappointing results in local elections this month in some areas with large Muslim populations.
The two-state solution has long been a pillar of British foreign policy and international efforts to resolve the conflict. However, the peace process has been declining for years.
The current Conservative government and other major European states, such as France and Germany, also expressed support for the Palestinian state.
The Labour Party this week backed the independence of the International Criminal Court after it sought arrest warrants for both Hamas and Israeli officials. This has led to a disagreement with the ruling Conservative Party.
The Conservative government argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction to request arrest warrants. The court was also unable to remove Israeli hostages from Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid or enforce a sustainable ceasefire, officials added.
