“Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.”
The statement came after Starmer — facing pressure from his own party and a French effort on the issue — made a conditional promise to recognize a Palestinian state before September’s United Nations General Assembly.
The British prime minister informed his Cabinet Tuesday that “now was the right time to move this position forward” due to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the declining chances of a peace process.
Starmer pledged that the U.K. would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government took “substantive steps” to resolve the crisis in Gaza and commit to a long-term peace process that ensures a two-state solution. Starmer reiterated that Hamas must release all hostages from the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, disarm, and agree to have no role in the Gaza government.
This move marks a significant shift in British Middle East policy, following intensive lobbying by MPs in Starmer’s Labour Party.
Netanyahu has previously criticized Starmer over sanctions aimed at Israeli ministers and condemned a “shameful” decision by the U.K. last year to suspend the sale of certain arms components used by Israeli forces in Gaza.
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