On Monday night, the British Parliament voted in favour of a non-binding motion, calling the government to recognise the state of Palestine as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution. Palestinians I have spoken to in Jerusalem and Ramallah, Gaza and Hebron have delivered the same message to me. So what is the British government’s policy?
The UK is and will continue to be a strong supporter of the creation of a Palestinian State, based on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. But the British government wants to recognise a Palestinian state at the right time, when it can best bring about a durable peace and thus deliver the basic needs of its citizens. The UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state would not bring about an end to the Occupation. We believe this can only happen through serious negotiations, leading to a two-state solution.
Palestinians have often expressed frustration to me that the international community always tells them to wait for statehood, while seemingly doing little to end the Occupation. But here are three ways the British government will work with you to make a Palestinian state a reality.
Firstly, we will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority to build the institutions essential for a Palestinian state. The UK is a leading donor to the Palestinian Authority. We have provided almost £350 million between 2011 and 2015 to build Palestinian institutions. On Sunday, we announced £20m of UK funding to support reconstruction in Gaza. Yesterday, our Minister of State for International Development Desmond Swayne met Prime Minister Hamdallah and discussed our latest work to support Palestinian security and justice institutions and to pay the salaries of teachers and doctors.
Secondly, we will continue to push back against anything that damages the prospects of a future Palestinian state. This is why we have been outspoken against illegal Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that damage the viability of a Palestinian state. This is why we are funding projects in Area C of the West Bank to help Palestinian families threatened with the demolition of their homes. Our Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond said last month: “The UK’s position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law.”
Finally, we will push for an urgent resumption of substantive negotiations leading to the creation of a sovereign, independent, democratic Palestinian State, living in peace and security alongside Israel. The summer’s suffering and devastation in Gaza underlined the urgent need for a political solution. We cannot return to the status quo ante in Gaza. We need a solution that will give Palestinians the hope of living in stability in their own state, free from Occupation: a Palestinian state in reality on the ground.