Over a dozen senior Conservative lawmakers have reached out to the Prime Minister, urging the UK to officially recognize Palestine as a province while risking dissent within their party.
Seven lawmakers and six House members are set to sign a letter next month, calling for Palestine to stand against the Israeli government and seeking formal recognition before upcoming discussions.
This letter, reviewed by the Guardian, was drafted in late March, following Israel’s breach of its peace agreement with Hamas, which dimmed hopes for a two-state solution. Recently, the Israeli Cabinet took measures to approve a plan aiming to take control of the Gaza Strip.
Organized by former Minister Kit Malthouse, the group emphasized in their letter: “Recognizing Palestine will reaffirm our nation’s commitment to justice, self-determination, and equal rights. It will signal that Britain opposes ongoing occupation and supports the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations.”
The letter goes on to suggest that recognition shouldn’t be seen as a mere bargaining chip, but as a vital step toward strengthening international law and diplomatic relations. The Prime Minister is supposedly ready to publicly back this decision.
They view this as a chance for the UK to lead and stand on the right side of history, supporting principles they advocate. Notably, over 140 UN member states already recognize Palestine, making the case for the UK to follow suit.
Several moderate party members signed the letter, including Malthouse, Edward Lee, and Simon Hoa. However, it also garnered support from more right-leaning members like John Hayes and Desmond Swain. Lords such as Hugo Swire and Patricia Morris also added their signatures.
It seems the Prime Minister has not yet responded.
While most UN countries recognize Palestinian statehood, the US and many European nations do not. France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-host a meeting next month where French President Emmanuel Macron aims to bolster support for two-state solutions, with potential recognition of Palestine being discussed.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron previously advocated for recognizing Palestine within the framework of Israeli peace negotiations.
A Conservative spokesperson reiterated the party’s long-held view: “We support recognizing the Palestinian state at a time conducive to peace negotiations, and we don’t believe that moment has arrived.”
Priorities align with similar sentiments, as the UK government seems cautious about stepping ahead of the US. However, Foreign Secretary David Ramie noted last week that discussions with France for next month are underway.
“We maintain that recognition is not the end goal in itself, but rather a part of achieving a two-state solution,” he said. “We will keep our dialogue open with partners on this matter.”
A spokesperson from Downing Street confirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to a two-state solution, as reiterated during a recent meeting with Mohammad Mustafa, head of the Palestinian authorities.
