Palestinian ambassador: UK should recognize statehood to help end ‘deadly status quo'

Arab News

a day ago

LONDON: The Palestinian ambassador to the UK has called on the Labour government to fulfill its manifesto pledge and recognize his nation as an independent sovereign state.
Husam Zomlot wrote in The Guardian that the move was 'long overdue' ahead of a UN conference on the two-state solution next week in New York, and that it would help end the 'deadly status quo' with Israel.
'I call on the British government to end this vicious path, right its historic wrongs and officially recognize the state of Palestine while the conditions are uniquely ripe to do so,' Zomlot wrote.
'Recognition is neither a reward for one party nor a punishment for another. It is a long-overdue affirmation of the Palestinian people's unconditional right to exist and live freely in our homeland,' he added.
'Peace is not made between occupier and occupied. It can only exist between equals.'
Ahead of the UN conference on June 17, set to be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, several states yet to recognize Palestine have begun discussions about doing so, including the UK and Canada.
Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer came under pressure in the House of Commons on Tuesday for the government to recognize Palestine unconditionally.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently told Parliament the UK had held direct talks with France about Palestinian statehood, but added the UK wanted the move to amount to more than just a symbolic gesture.
But Zomlot wrote: 'Recognition (should not) be subject to ever more conditions on the Palestinian side. Delaying recognition simply reinforces the deadly status quo, denying Palestinians' equal rights until Israel consents, thus granting our occupier a permanent veto over the future.'
Ahead of the conference, the French government, which is also believed to be among those set to recognize Palestine, published a letter laying out political commitments made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, including that a future Palestinian state would require Hamas 'laying down its weapons' and 'no longer ruling Gaza.'
The commitments included holding democratic presidential elections within a year, and Hamas accepting nonviolence, disarmament, and the two-state solution. Abbas also condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the militant group, and demanded the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
Hugh Lovatt, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Guardian: 'Recognition would certainly allow London and Paris to press the PA towards political renewal, including the holding of long-overdue elections, but it does not provide them with much leverage over Hamas which does not consider recognition by itself as being of sufficient value of itself to disarm before a peace agreement with Israel is reached.'
A senior diplomat from a Gulf state told The Guardian that Hamas had agreed to the proposal to end its rule in Gaza, but not to disarming.
Another Gulf diplomat told the paper: 'Israel is seeking the total annihilation of Hamas and will not be willing to hand security in Gaza to the PA or a multinational force.'
The US government sent a diplomatic cable on Tuesday urging countries not to attend the conference, calling it 'counterproductive to ongoing, lifesaving efforts to end the war in Gaza and free hostages.'
But Zomlot wrote: 'This is a moment of historic consequence. It demands moral clarity and political courage. I urge the UK to rise to the moment and act now.'