The United Kingdom is considering recognizing Palestine as a state sooner than expected, according to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron.
He emphasized the need to provide Palestinians with a political perspective to promote peace in the Middle East. Lord Cameron is on his fourth visit to the region since becoming foreign secretary.
The UK believes it has a responsibility to outline what a Palestinian state would look like. Lord Cameron mentioned that the Palestinian people should witness “irreversible progress” towards a two-state solution. The idea is to consider recognizing Palestine as a state, possibly even before finalizing a peace deal, to contribute to the peace process.
Lord Cameron also urged Israel to permit more humanitarian aid into Gaza, expressing concern about British aid being turned away at the border. He stated that the last 30 years have been a story of failure for Israel in providing security to its citizens. Lord Cameron believes that recognizing this failure is essential for achieving peace and progress.
The UK has traditionally supported a two-state solution, envisioning Israelis and Palestinians living in separate countries. However, Lord Cameron suggests formal diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state could occur earlier, during negotiations. He highlighted the importance of establishing a new Palestinian authority quickly, with effective leadership to govern Gaza.
Recognizing a Palestinian state would be part of a broader effort, and Lord Cameron acknowledged that a comprehensive deal with Israel would be challenging but not impossible. As part of such a deal, he emphasized the release of all hostages, preventing Hamas attacks on Israel, and the departure of Hamas leadership from Gaza.
While Lord Cameron’s comments were seen as historic by the head of the Palestinian mission in London, they sparked disagreement among some Conservative MPs. Former minister Theresa Villiers expressed concern that fast-tracking Palestinian statehood could be seen as rewarding Hamas’ actions.
Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell clarified that the UK would not recognize a Palestinian state unilaterally but would do so when it best serves the objective of peace. The Israeli government has not yet commented on this development.
Regarding the ongoing efforts to end the conflict in Gaza, Lord Cameron emphasized the need for a sustainable ceasefire and expressed optimism about potential progress in negotiations. He stressed the importance of transforming the current pause in fighting into a lasting ceasefire and eventually achieving a political solution for long-term peace.