US, UK 'disagree' on Gaza plan but 'share' same goal Vance says ahead of Lammy meeting
"We have no plans to recognize a Palestinian state," Vance said ahead of a meeting with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy. "I don't know what it would mean to really recognize a Palestinian State, given the lack of a functional government there.
"Obviously, it's not an easy problem to solve, or it would have already been dealt with," he added, noting the need to not only eradicate Hamas but to end the humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip. "But we share, I think, that focus and that goal.
"We may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal, and we'll talk about that today," Vance added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in late July a major shift in UK policy toward Israel and said that if Jerusalem does not agree to a ceasefire by September, it would recognize a Palestinian state – a status that Israeli leaders have long objected to.
Starmer's warning, which echoed similar positions taken by France and Canada, was in direct response to growing frustration with Israel over its continued military operations and the dire humanitarian situation that Palestinians have been facing for months.
Though the U.K.'s approach to dealing with the escalating situation runs counter to President Donald Trump's position when it comes to recognizing a two-state solution, Trump has also increasingly expressed his concern over access to food aid and the "real starvation" there.
It is unclear how the U.S. will be increasing its involvement to help with food aid, but the Trump administration has distanced itself from its top allies when it comes to Israel's military operations in Gaza, with Trump telling reporters on Monday that it was "pretty much up to Israel."
Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved a plan formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City despite international pushback.
But Netanyahu countered any immediate geopolitical outcry in a post on X and said, "We are not going to occupy Gaza - we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.
"Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization," he added. "This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future."
The plan is still expected to be met with international condemnation, but it's not the only issue at the top of Western minds as Vance and Lammy meet on Friday.
"We have a lot to discuss. There's a lot going on in the world," Vance said. "Of course, the situation in the Middle East, the situation with Ukraine and Russia. There's a lot of news there and a lot of things to update each other on."
Apart from the major international security concerns, the duo are also expected to address economic partnerships, which could include recent U.S. tariff announcements.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Goldman Flags Falling Survey Responses as Key Driver of Big Data Revisions
Goldman Sachs says a key reason behind the unusually large revisions to recent U.S. economic data could be falling survey response rates. Analysts led by Jan Hatzius examined more than 30 indicators over the past decade and found measures like JOLTS job openings, retail sales, and nonfarm payroll growth have seen bigger revisions partly due to fewer responses. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with AMD. The debate intensified after the July jobs report delivered one of the largest two-month payroll revisions in decades outside the pandemic, prompting former President Donald Trump to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer. Trump accused her of rigging numbers before last year's election a claim she denied. Goldman noted other forces at play, including pandemic-related seasonal distortions that skewed initial prints for jobless claims and manufacturing surveys. Trump's replacement pick suggested halting the monthly jobs report, though the White House confirmed it would continue. Markets shrugged off the data drama, with Wall Street hitting record highs Tuesday on softer July inflation and Fed rate cut hopes. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
5 minutes ago
- New York Times
Top Iranian Official Visits Lebanon as Hezbollah Bucks Calls to Disarm
A top Iranian security official met with Lebanese leaders on Wednesday as pressure mounted for its most powerful regional ally, Hezbollah, to disarm. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's top security body, was the most senior Iranian official to visit Beirut since the Lebanese government last week endorsed a U.S.-backed road map to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah has rejected the plan, which followed weeks of shuttle diplomacy by Washington aimed at implementing a cease-fire deal signed last year with Israel that ended Lebanon's deadliest conflict in decades. Hezbollah's arsenal has long underpinned both its self-declared role as Lebanon's defender against Israel and its political prowess at home. But after emerging from the war severely weakened, the group's future is now in question. In recent months, Lebanon's new government has faced mounting pressure from the United States and Gulf states to complete the group's disarmament, a key step mandated by the cease-fire agreement reached in November. Neutralizing Hezbollah as a fighting force is seen as essential to unlocking billions in foreign aid needed to rebuild a country ravaged by war and economic crisis. For Lebanon, it is delicate balancing act with the highest of stakes. After months of trading cross-border fire with Hezbollah, Israel invaded last October and its forces still hold a handful of positions in Lebanon and carry out near daily strikes there. Lebanese officials and Western diplomats say that if the government delays in disarming Hezbollah, Israel could escalate its military campaign. Yet any move by Lebanon to dismantle the group's arsenal without parallel concessions from Israel risks inflaming sectarian tensions and triggering civil unrest. During the visit by Mr. Larijani on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon said that no group in Lebanon was permitted to bear arms or depend on foreign backing — a thinly veiled reference to Iran's longstanding support for Hezbollah. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
BBC apologises to Jenrick over suggestions he is xenophobic in Radio 4 broadcast
The BBC has apologised to Robert Jenrick after a refugee charity boss suggested the shadow justice secretary is xenophobic during Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Jenrick has accused the broadcaster of smearing 'millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears'. While appearing on the radio on Wednesday, Krish Kandiah, a director of Sanctuary Foundation, claimed Mr Jenrick had increased 'fear of the stranger' among people. Mr Kandiah added: 'The technical name for this is xenophobia. 'All phobias are by definition irrational. Nevertheless, they have a huge impact. 'Over the past year, xenophobia has fuelled angry protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, deepening divisions in our communities.' In a letter to the Conservative MP, the broadcaster's head of editorial standards Roger Mahony said the comments went 'well beyond' what is expected of its Thought For The Day segment. Mr Mahony said: 'I have concluded that, while its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language it used went beyond that. 'I have asked for the two references to xenophobia to be edited from the programme on BBC Sounds. Please accept my apology for their original inclusion.' The content has since been removed from the programme on BBC Sounds. Mr Jenrick said: 'Illegal migration is obviously fuelling crime and the public are right to be concerned about it. 'It's extremely disappointing the BBC thought it was acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally.' A series of protests have been held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, over recent weeks after an asylum seeker was accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the charges of sexual assault and is due to stand trial this month. In a statement, the BBC said: 'During this episode of Thought For The Day, criticism was made of recent comments by shadow secretary of state for justice Robert Jenrick, about hotels housing asylum seekers. 'While the programme's reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective was broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language used went beyond that and we apologise for its inclusion. 'It has been removed from the version on BBC Sounds.'
