Britain must not recognise Palestinian statehood

Telegraph

25-07-2025

A seismic shift in the UK's foreign policy could dramatically emerge over the coming weeks as the Government considers whether to recognise a Palestinian state.
Faced with such a landmark decision, we must all hope that the Government is thoroughly stress testing the law of unintended consequences. The Mayor of London certainly hasn't, given his spectacularly one-sided and performative intervention which failed to even mention Hamas.
We are united in our desire for an end to the cycle of unbearable violence in the region, but make no mistake, this dramatic move would backfire by rewarding the extreme protest groups which are actively threatening our democracy and pose a clear and present security threat to the British public.
Advocating for the Palestinians is a legitimate cause, but there are countless examples of Islamist extremists and far-Left groups hurling abuse and threats at elected politicians, disrupting the public through criminal acts and intimidation, targeting Jewish places of worship and gathering and even shaping the outcome of elections. On so many occasions we have witnessed outright calls for the destruction of Israel as well as the verbal and physical targeting of 'Zionists' (a not-so-clever code word for Jews). It's the violence that led the government to proscribe Palestine Action, not the peaceful advocacy.
Ever since Hamas unleashed its heinous pogrom against Israel on that dark October 7 day, Britain's urban centres have been repeatedly turned into seething rivers of rage and intolerance far beyond the realms of freedom of speech – especially Sir Sadiq's increasingly lawless London. Calls for violent jihad and the flags of terror groups brazenly displayed. Shop windows smashed. Terror attacks on the Israeli Embassy in London thwarted. Universities and cultural events invaded and subverted. Actions once unthinkable have effectively been normalised. Ever more people drawn into unacceptable behaviour. They will rejoice should Labour prematurely recognise a Palestinian state.
Note, moreover, that 147 states have already recognised Palestine, without any improvement in the situation. The international law requirements for recognition of a state are a permanent population, defined territory, an effective government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. 'Palestine' meets none of these. A sham recognition will do nothing to change the facts on the ground. This Government has stoutly defended international law and should not contemplate its undermining by mob force and intimidation.
The sobering findings of the Commission on Antisemitism by Lord Mann and Dame Penny Mordaunt, alongside StandWithUs UK's report into rampant anti-Semitism at universities, should give the Government pause for thought before taking actions which could add to an already combustible situation. Rather, top of their agenda should be the implementation of the recommendations of that Commission.
Recent polling of Palestinians shows that a future Palestinian state is likely to be governed by Hamas rather than the deeply unpopular Palestinian Authority. Despite being proscribed as a terror group in the UK, the Government is risking presenting Hamas with the ultimate gift of statehood. Hamas' leaders have been clear about their intentions to repeat the October 7 massacre again and so the nightmare will tragically continue for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
It would also pose an enormous challenge to the UK's overstretched police forces and a major test for our exceptional security services. Their efforts to counter those that support terrorism at home would be compromised by the very legitimacy that the British government would bestow upon Hamas and hence its followers. British cheerleaders of Hamas can hardly believe their luck. Nor can Iran, whose fingerprints are visible on so much of this – its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be emboldened to plot even more terror attacks on UK soil. Public displays of anti-Semitism will become the norm.
The list of harmful consequences goes on. It would create a crisis in the UK's all-important relationship with the US at a time of global precarity, and send a signal to the likes of Iran, Russia and China – let alone terror groups – that violence pays. The increased likelihood of wars abroad and terrorism at home will cost British lives and taxpayers.
offered a state and turned it down. That is not what they want. They want the removal of Israel.