When will the UK recognise Palestine and what does that mean?

Yahoo

4 days ago

Prime minister Keir Starmer said the UK would recognise Palestine by the time of the UN General Assembly meeting in September.
The UK government has said it believes its plans to recognise Palestine as a state is compliant with international law, despite warnings from lawyers to the contrary.
On Tuesday, 29 July, prime minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK could take the step of recognising a Palestinian state ahead of a gathering at the UN later this year.
He said that the UK will only refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months.
However, former hostages and their families criticised Starmer's announcement on Wednesday, 30 July, while some 38 members of the House of Lords, including some of the UK's most eminent lawyers, have written to attorney general Lord Hermer, warning him that it could be in contravention of international law.
As first reported by The Times, the peers warned Starmer's pledge to recognise Palestine may breach international law as the territory may not meet the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, a treaty signed in 1933.
But, asked whether recognising Palestine is compliant with international law, business minister Gareth Thomas told Times Radio on Thursday, 31 July: 'Yes, we believe it is.
'In the end, recognition of another state is a political judgement and over 140 countries have already recognised Palestine.'
When will the UK recognise a Palestinian state?
Starmer announced the UK will recognise a Palestinian state by September at the UN General Assembly, unless Israel meets specific conditions.
These conditions include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term peace process for a two-state solution.
The decision follows intense domestic pressure, with many from Starmer's Labour Party urging immediate recognition.
Starmer cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a key reason for the timing.
The UK's move aligns with France, which also plans to recognise Palestine in September.
What does it mean?
Recognising a Palestinian state means the UK would formally acknowledge Palestinian self-determination, without addressing practical issues like borders or governance.
This symbolic act could lead to diplomatic changes, such as establishing a Palestinian embassy in London.
However, it does not imply recognition of Hamas – which governs Gaza and is a proscribed a terrorist group in the UK – but rather the Palestinian Authority (which maintains administrative control of the West Bank) as the state's representative.
The move aims to strengthen Palestine's global standing and pressure Israel to negotiate.
Practically, little would change on the ground due to Israel's rejection of a Palestinian state. However, it could prompt the UK to review trade and agreements with Israel to align with Palestinian rights.
Recognising Palestine could also be a diplomatic tool to push for a two-state solution, despite Israel's opposition.
The UK's decision could inspire other nations to follow, with Canada being the latest country to say it will follow suit, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel.
However, without US support, full UN membership for Palestine remains unlikely due to a potential US veto.
How many countries have recognised Palestine?
As of March this year, 147 of the 193 UN member states, about 75%, recognise a Palestinian state.
This includes most countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, along with some in Europe.
Last year, nine countries – Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados – formally recognised Palestine.
Among the G20, 10 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, and Spain, recognise Palestine, while nine, including the US and Germany, do not.
The EU as a whole does not recognise Palestine, with varied stances among members.
Recognition began in 1988 as a result of efforts by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to have the State of Palestine recognised, with 78 countries acknowledging it by the end of the year.
How has Israel responded?
Israel's government, led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned Starmer's announcement as a 'reward for Hamas's monstrous terrorism'.
Israel argues that such a move encourage Hamas and harms ceasefire efforts.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the UK's decision undermines negotiations and legitimises terrorism.
Netanyahu has long rejected a two-state solution, while Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Damon, called the recognition 'hypocrisy' and a distraction from securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In response to earlier recognitions by Spain, Ireland and Norway in 2024, Israel recalled its ambassadors and vowed to expand West Bank settlements.
Israel maintains that unilateral recognition violates the Oslo Accords, which require mutual negotiations for statehood. It insists that a Palestinian state would threaten its security, especially after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.