The sad fact is that the UK’s ultimatum of recognising Palestine in September only shows the severe decline in our country’s influence on the world stage.
Last week, Keir Starmer insisted that he was “unequivocal” about the need for a Palestinian state, but stressed that it needed to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis”.
Just 72 hours later, a release out from Tuesday’s cabinet meeting attributed the following sentiment to the Prime Minister: “Because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward.”
What suddenly changed in those hours? Regretfully, the apparent U-turn does not seem like a considered and measured decision, but rather a desperate attempt to quell a rising tide of political pressure – from hundreds of Parliamentarians as well as members of the cabinet – for such recognition to take place. It also seems like a kneejerk reaction to France’s decision last week to announce its own plans for recognition.
The British government’s announcement also appeared to contain significant caveats. Such recognition, it is understood, will only take place if Israel fails to take certain actions, such as reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, and guaranteeing the West Bank would not be annexed. The government was not completely clear if such recognition was also dependent on Hamas taking various actions of its own, such as releasing all the hostages and disarming.
The sad fact, however, is that the UK’s ultimatum, rather than being a significant step forward, only shows the severe decline in our country’s influence on the world stage.
Neither Israel or Hamas are likely to factor the UK announcement – or rather, its threat – into their decision making. We can also ask how, given the cabinet office readout stated that “recognition of a Palestinian state was an inalienable right of the Palestinian people”, the British government seems perfectly willing to wield that “inalienable right” as a threat to cow the Israelis.
The questions continue. Will this help bring the hostages home? Will it end the acute hunger in Gaza that we as paper have led our community in highlighting and condemning? Will it help end the reign of Hamas? Tragically, the only answers are no, no and no. You can’t simply imagine a democratic Palestinian state into being. Certainly not when Hamas is still in a position of authority. As such, this feels like the ultimate empty gesture, which will alienate British supporters of Israel while infuriating British backers of the Palestinians, who will no doubt demand unconditional recognition.
Many in our community have argued that recognising a Palestinian state now, in the aftermath of 7 October, would look like it was rewarding terror. It is certainly possible to see it that way, although it is also correct to say that many of those who have embraced this argument have no real interest in a Palestinian state at any point. This group includes many in the Israeli government and the wider Knesset, which last week voted in favour of a (non-binding) resolution confirming Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
Some in our community lost all faith in the two-state solution after 7 October. This newspaper maintains that it is still the best hope of a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians – if it is properly thought out and instrumented. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve more than a performative gesture such as this.
Ultimately, only courageous and principled political leadership will bring about statehood – and there’s no sign of that at the moment on the Palestinian side or, indeed, in Jerusalem. Rather than this week’s move, the UK and others would do better to support political leaders who could go down this path and speak truth to the Palestinians about the fact that they too have had agency for the last 80 years and should finally start using it.
Britain and France have a history of meddling in the region, arbitrarily deciding the fate of its inhabitants. It was of course Marx – simultaneously Jewish and yet no friend to the Jewish people – who described how “history repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second as farce”. It would appear that we have now regretfully reached that second stage.
29/07/2025 by JEWISH NEWS
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