LONDON – Keir Starmer confirmed Britain will ignore fury from the US and Israel to recognise a Palestinian state – despite his deputy admitting the move was little more than empty virtue-signalling.
The prime minister this afternoon said that the UK would press on with its symbolic gesture because of the ‘growing horror’ of the Israeli offensive in the occupied enclave and the Netanyahu government’s failure to agree to a ceasefire.
In a video posted on social media, he said the move was intended ‘to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis’ in a two-state system, and includes fresh sanctions against Hamas leaders.
But the move, to be formally ratified at the UN General Assembly next week, has led to a torrent of criticism from those who say it rewards Hamas for its terrorism against Israel which triggered the bloody conflict.
Sir Keir has also been warned that it will harm the UK’s standing in the world and the PM was accused of pandering to his restive leftwing backbenchers today, after David Lammy admitted there was style but no substance to the move.
The deputy prime minister said the incendiary move was about giving the Palestinian people ‘hope’.
He admitted that it would do nothing to end the fighting or feed tens of thousands of people in the grip of famine as the Israelis continue their bloody assault.
In a co-ordinated move, Canada and Australia also moved to recognise Palestine yesterday with statements by PMs Mark Carney and Anthony Albanese. France and Portugal are also expected to follow suit.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli PM Netanyahu today said it remained committed to achieving its war goals and said the UK decision was ‘absurd and simply a reward for terrorism’.
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