Keir Starmer must use goodwill with Trump to expedite Palestinian statehood
As long ago as 2014, a majority of MPs – including me – voted to recognise Palestinian statehood. Recognition has been Labour Party policy for at least the last three general elections. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has repeatedly said that he is working closely with the French, who announced their intention last week.
It is no secret that pressure has ramped up in recent weeks, as the spectre of famine in Gaza has once again led the international community to look for new ways to demonstrate its commitment to a lasting peace.
I have been saying to anyone who will listen for the better part of a year that it is time for the UK to fulfil its long-term commitment to recognition. Last week, I was one of 200 MPs of all parties to sign a letter calling on the government to do just that.
On the same day, the Foreign Affairs Committee, which I chair, published a report into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – the product of nine months' intensive work. In that report, by majority vote, we called for the UK government to 'recognise the state of Palestine while there is still a state to recognise'. We all called on the government to kick-start the political process for a two-state solution, and to demand a ceasefire and for aid to flood in.
Much of the coverage of the decision has seemed to reflect the Westminster bubble's Vicky Pollard-like attitude to any major policy change: 'Yeah-but, no-but.' When was the last time good news was simply welcomed?
A lot has been made of the so-called conditional nature of the announcement. But let's face it: such speculation had already been killed off within 24 hours, when Benjamin Netanyahu by return of post said 'no' to our demands. And so it's likely that the UK will recognise Palestine in the autumn.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe
What, then, does recognition mean – both for the suffering populations of Gaza and the West Bank, and for the UK's international standing?
The move to recognise a Palestinian state shows Netanyahu's far-right government that the international community will not tolerate the continued bombardment of Gaza. It will not tolerate the cutting off of aid. It will not allow Gaza and the West Bank to be annexed. As well as insisting that aid is allowed in, it will take concrete steps to support the self-determination of the Palestinian people.
In my view, it is also an attempt to reach over the heads of the far-right Israeli government and speak directly to the Israeli public, a majority of which polls consistently show want peace. It tells them there are nations out there that are willing to do the hard work to secure peace.
But above all, it shows that the UK is serious about getting back into the room and building the two-state solution that both Palestinians and Israelis desperately need.
That is especially powerful coming as it does alongside our allies. Both France, with whom Britain carved up the Middle East under the Sykes-Picot treaty more than a century ago. And our allies in the Arab world, including Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who for their part issued a statement on Tuesday night calling for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza.
No, recognition is not a stand-alone solution. But nor is it merely symbolic. It is a gigantic first step.
Next, the UK must get together with those same allies and build a peace plan. I've seen indications that the government is beginning to do this. It is true that Netanyahu only listens to Donald Trump. So we must leverage the strong relationship that Keir Starmer has built and present that plan to the president, who, let's be honest, is hardly going to do the detailed work himself.
We should say, 'President Trump, you have the strength of ten presidents. Show Netanyahu that peace and two states is the only solution, and there might even be a Nobel Peace Prize in it for you.'
I am not saying it will work – but it might. And, in the face of the very real threat that the Palestinian land will be annexed out of existence, surely we must try.
While we must prioritise alleviating immediate suffering, it is our duty to work to secure peace and a future for the Palestinian people. For that, there is no solution other than the two-state one.
For years, the government has held out for the point of maximum impact. That moment is now.
[See also: Emily Thornberry interview: 'I want to rebuild good vibes about the UK']
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Detentions expected 'within days' as UK-France migrant returns deal comes into force
The UK and France's "one in, one out" deal to return migrants who cross the Channel on small boats comes into force on Tuesday, with detentions expected to begin within days. The deal, which has now been approved by the European Commission, means the UK will be able to send people crossing the Channel in small boats back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with ties to Britain. It also means that anyone arriving in a small boat can be detained immediately, and space has been set aside at immigration removal centres, in the expectation that detentions will begin within days. The ratification of the treaty comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed the "one in, one out" pilot scheme last month. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy, delivering real results for British people, as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs' business model. 'The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "For the first time, under this groundbreaking new treaty, people who undertake illegal, dangerous journeys to the UK – putting lives at risk and fuelling organised crime – can be returned to France. "In return, we will take people who apply legally with appropriate documentation to be transferred to the UK, subject to clear eligibility criteria and stringent security checks." Cooper added: 'It is also right to make clear that – while the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict – this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal, and uncontrolled routes." Under the new agreement, adult migrants who cross the Channel on a small boat can be returned to France if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible. An equal number of migrants who pass security checks will also be eligible to come to the UK through a new, legal route if they have not attempted to cross the Channel before. Anyone who arrives on a small boat and is returned to France will not be eligible to apply for the legal route to the UK, the Home Office said. Migrants in France who want to come to the UK legally will be able to submit an Expression of Interest application online, but will need to "satisfactorily establish" their identity and nationality, as well as pass security and eligibility checks. The returns treaty will remain in force until 2026, and will be continually reviewed by both the UK and France. The government says returns to other countries and immigration work will continue alongside the treaty, adding that they have returned more than 35,000 people who do not have the right to be in the UK within the last year. But opposition parties have criticised the deal amid reports that the pilot scheme will see only 50 people a week returned to France while this year has seen a weekly average of more than 800 people make the crossing. The deal has also been criticised by refugee charities, which have urged the government to provide more safe, legal routes for asylum seekers instead. Ministers have so far declined to say how many people could be returned under the deal, and insist that if the pilot is successful the figure will increase. It comes as the Home Office announced £100 million of extra funding to support the returns agreement between the UK and France on Monday. The cash will also pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on smuggling gangs. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp attacked the plans, saying they would return 'just 6% of illegal arrivals' and 'make no difference whatsoever'. He added: 'The Rwanda removals deterrent, under which 100% of illegal arrivals would be removed, was ready to go last summer but Labour cancelled it just days before it was due to start with no proper replacement plan. As a result, this year so far has been the worst ever for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. 'Only removing all illegal immigrants upon arrival will provide the necessary deterrent to stop the crossings. This is the Conservative plan, but Labour is too weak to implement it and as a result they have lost control of our borders.' While the Conservatives' Rwanda plan was in theory uncapped, it was expected to take only around 1,000 asylum seekers in its first five years of operation thanks to limited capacity in the East African nation. The plan, which Starmer had previously dismissed as a 'gimmick', was scrapped as one of the first acts of the incoming Labour Government last year.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer hails major UK-France deal to tackle Channel small boat crossings
The 'one-in, one-out' pilot scheme could see some adult migrants who make the Channel crossing at risk of return if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible A major treaty between the UK and France attempting to tackle dangerous Channel crossings is set to come into force tomorrow. The"one-in, one-out" pilot scheme could see some adult migrants who make the crossing at risk of return if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible. In exchange, people with a legitimate claim to live in Britain will be sent in their place under the treaty, which remains in force until June 2026. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron reached the agreement last month during the French President's state visit to the UK. It was agreed the scheme would begin as a pilot and is the first returns deal struck with France since Britain left the European Union. It comes after Nigel Farage appearances on Sky News sparked thousands of complaints. Keir Starmer said: 'This government has been fixing the foundations of the broken asylum system we inherited and today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France. 'This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs' business model. 'The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.' Ministers have previously declined to say how many migrants could be returned. But reports have suggested the pilot will be capped at 50 a week - around 2,600 each year. The Home Office said ratification of the treaty comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau signed the final text last week. They said the EU Commission had also given the green-light to the scheme, which Ms Cooper described as "groundbreaking". She said under the deal "people who undertake illegal, dangerous journeys to the UK – putting lives at risk and fuelling organised crime – can be returned to France". She added: "In return, we will take people who apply legally with appropriate documentation to be transferred to the UK, subject to clear eligibility criteria and stringent security checks. 'This is an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings – undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally can't be returned to France." 'It is also right to make clear that – while the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict – this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal, and uncontrolled routes." On Monday the Home Office also announced a £100million boost to border security to pay for up to 300 additional National Crime Agency Officers. The cash will also fund a pilot of the 'one-in, one-out' returns deal with France.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
UK and France to ratify 'one in, one out' migrant returns deal
LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Britain said it would begin implementing a deal to return migrants who arrive on small boats to France within days after a treaty on the arrangement - a key part of British plans to cut illegal migration - is ratified on Tuesday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the "one in, one out" pilot scheme on migrant returns last month. Under the new deal, France has agreed to accept the return of undocumented people arriving in Britain by small boats, in exchange for Britain agreeing to accept an equal number of legitimate asylum seekers with British family connections. A treaty on the scheme was signed last week but not previously announced ahead of Tuesday's ratification. Britain said the European Commission and EU member states had given the green light to the plan. Starmer, whose popularity has fallen since winning an election landslide last year, is facing pressure to stop small boat arrivals from the populist Reform UK party, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage. Britain's interior ministry said it expected detentions to begin within days. "This is an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings," British interior minister Yvette Cooper said. Under the agreement with France, government sources previously said they were looking at about 50 returns a week, or 2,600 a year, a fraction of the more than 35,000 arrivals reported last year, though the scheme could be scaled up. More than 25,000 people have arrived on small boats so far in 2025, and the government has targeted people smugglers with sanctions, clamped down on social media adverts and is working with delivery firms to tackle the illegal work that is often promised to migrants.
