SNP demand UK Government act amid Israeli E1 plan in West Bank
The so-called E1 project between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, which has been frozen amid fierce opposition internationally and within Israel, would effectively cut off the West Bank from occupied East Jerusalem.
"The plan will bury the idea of a Palestinian state,' he told Israeli media – adding that this would be the case "because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise".
READ MORE: Serious nuclear incident took place at Faslane naval base this year
Keir Starmer announced last month that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.
But given this new development, the SNP have said that the conditions need to be dropped and that a Palestinian state needs to be recognised now.
'There should be no conditions on recognising Palestinian Statehood and this should be all the evidence Keir Starmer needs to drop the strings he's needlessly attached to that process,' the party's Middle East spokesperson Brendan O'Hara (below) said.
'It is patently obvious that Israel is doing all it can to ensure there is nothing left of Palestine to recognise and it is time the UK Government stopped the delays which they've been guilty of throughout the appalling destruction and slaughter in Gaza.'
The Prime Minister previously said that he would make an "assessment" before the United Nations General Assembly beginning on September 9 "before making a final decision" to ensure that "no one side will have a veto".
The statement from No 10 added: "He reiterated that he had taken this action to protect the viability of the two-state solution, and that the immediate focus must be to get more aid urgently into Gaza, and that work would continue to bring allies on board with the plan that delivers a long-term settlement to the conflict."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
King Charles leads 80th VJ Day commemoration in UK
King Charles led VJ Day commemorations in the UK as a national service of remembrance and two-minute silence marked the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the second world war and the end of the six-year-long conflict. He was joined by the queen, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and veterans who served in the far east theatres of war as wreaths were laid at the National Memorial Arboretum service in Staffordshire. Powerful testimonies read aloud reminded of the terrible cost of war, while a flypast featured the Red Arrows and historic second world war aircraft, including a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber. Guests of honour included 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105. A Royal Navy veteran, Alfred Conway, from Lincolnshire, watched as his great granddaughter laid a wreath on the Burma railway memorial at the arboretum. George Durrant, who served in the intelligence corps, appeared on stage to urge people not to forget the sacrifices made by his comrades. In Japan, Emperor Naruhito spoke of his 'deep remorse' on the anniversary and said he felt 'a deep and renewed sense of sorrow' in a sombre speech in an indoor arena in the centre of the Japanese capital. But a visit by two cabinet ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo angered countries that suffered Japanese military atrocities, particularly China and South Korea, AFP reported. The shrine, which the country's Asian neighbours view as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression, honours 2.5 million mostly Japanese soldiers who perished since the late 19th century but also enshrines convicted war criminals. Japan's prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, a political moderate, sent a customary offering to Yasukuni, according to Kyodo news. No Japanese prime minister has visited the shrine since 2013, when a trip by then-premier Shinzo Abe sparked fury in Beijing and Seoul. China's foreign ministry on Friday summoned the chief minister of Japan's embassy in China, Yokochi Akira, to lodge solemn representations over Japanese politicians visiting the war shrine, according to a ministry statement, Reuters reported. In an audio message before the national service of remembrance to the nation, realms and Commonwealth, Charles spoke of allied prisoners of war 'who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance' and the 'mental and physical scars' the war left on those who survived. He vowed the service and sacrifice of VJ Day heroes 'shall never be forgotten'. In what is believed to be the most direct reference by a British monarch to the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after their atomic bombings, he said: 'We should also pause to acknowledge that in the war's final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.' More than 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan, and nearly 30,000 died according to the Royal British Legion, while more than 12,000 Britons were among the 190,000 Commonwealth troops held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Of the Allied forces, the US suffered the greatest losses, with more than 100,000 killed in action. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than 200,000 people were killed by the US bombs and in the months after succumbing to radiation sickness, the effects of burns and other serious injuries. Hundreds of buildings across the UK were due to be lit up on Friday evening to mark VJ Day 80, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower 42, the Shard, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, the Cenotaph and the White Cliffs of Dover.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Scottish farm fumes as council gives milk contract to German dairy giant
Mossgiel Organic Dairy teamed up with the local authority back in 2021 to provide every school in the area with its organic milk. The farm in Mauchline, where Robert Burns once ploughed the fields and wrote many of his famous verses, aims to provide sustainable, organic milk while challenging the dominance of the bigger dairy companies and their negative impact on the industry. READ MORE: Scottish 85-year-old pens scathing letter to Keir Starmer over immigration rules The farm has won multiple awards and is known for providing a high quality product whilst also being environmentally friendly. For example, it was the first dairy farm in the UK to ditch single-use plastics But, The National can now confirm that the council has decided to award the contract to Müller – a German multinational firm which is considered the largest dairy brand in the UK. Mossgiel took to social media to hit out at the move. In a statement, they claimed: 'On paper, the council saves £6500 a year. In reality, here's the rest of the bill: "Recycling costs: Single-use milk packaging could add £2000–£5000 a year to waste bills, even if they pour from bigger supermarket jugs instead of little cartons. "Jobs lost: Two full-time equivalent local roles gone; £50–55k removed from Ayrshire's economy, plus around £5k less in National Insurance contributions for public services. "Local milk value: £61,000 less per year for our farm and the co-op of organic family farms we work with." They then added: 'Best case? They save a couple of grand up front, but lose around £111,000 from the East Ayrshire economy. Worst case? No saving at all plus the loss of jobs, farm income and the circular economy on top. 'Either way, that's over £100,000 stripped out of our community every year, diesel fumes back in playgrounds, and a prayer that milk cartons actually make it into recycling instead of landfill. Oh, and profits? Straight to a German-owned company. We respect the council's decision but we don't agree with it.' In a statement to The National, East Ayrshire Council confirmed that Mossgiel Milk's bid to keep the contract was unsuccessful and that Müller will replace them. 'The Council remains committed to providing healthy nutritious school meals, and has for the past 20 years, issued fresh and organic food contracts. The contracts are designed to provide a range of produce that meets higher welfare, and health and nutritional value. The successful tenderers have committed to maintain these standards,' the council said. 'The council also has strong links through the Ayrshire Economic Forum that engages with the wider local market to promote opportunity; and there is also direct support from the council's business support team and the Supplier Development Programme, which delivers grant support and expertise to businesses exploring public sector procurement opportunities.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Fury erupts after St George's flags are ripped down from city's streets by council over fears they ‘put lives at risk'
A politican also hit out after the move by the council 'UTTER ABSURDITY' Fury erupts after St George's flags are ripped down from city's streets by council over fears they 'put lives at risk' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FURIOUS residents have blasted their local council after St George's flags were ripped down from city streets. Locals have put up flags on houses and streetlights in Northfield, Birmingham, in what was described as a show of "patriotic outpouring". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 St George's and Union Jack flags tied to lamp posts in Birmingham Credit: BPM 4 But the council have decided to tear them down, sparking backlash Credit: BPM 4 Many feel the move is excessive Credit: BPM The Union Jack and St George's flags were put up using ladders and cable ties by a group of residents called the Weoley Warriors. Funded by £2,500 of public donations, the campaign is intended to 'show Birmingham and the rest of the country of how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements'. The flags were first seen in Weoley Castle before spreading to other parts of Northfield including Bartley Green, Selly Oak and Frankley Great Park. But Birmingham City Council have now confirmed the flags will be removed, saying the "unauthorised items" are "dangerous" and could potentially kill motorists and pedestrians. The council said that the extra weight could "potentially lead to collapse" in the future. However, the council's decision has sparked backlash from residents. One unnamed flag-flying resident told BirminghamLive that the patriotic bunting had been put up because people in the area have "had enough". "This country is a disgrace and has no backbone," they said. "This isn't racism, it's frustration at being pushed into a corner and silenced." Jeremy Duthie, from Weoley Castle, also told the outlet: "My personal opinion is that anyone who has a problem with our national flag being flown is living in the wrong country and should maybe consider living in the country represented by whatever flag they prefer to see flying." Many have also pointed out that Palestinian flags were flying in other parts of the city to show solidarity over the Gaza crisis as well as Ukrainian flags in the past. And the council also lit up the Library of Birmingham in green and white to mark the anniversary of Pakistan's independence day yesterday. Cabbies have hit out at a 'woke' ban on flying England flag MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused Birmingham City Council of piling "bias and absurdity on top of their utter incompetence". He pointed out that they have managed to find workers to take down flags after months of bin strikes. But a spokesman for the council said: "People who attach unauthorised items to lampposts could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk. "Placing unauthorised attachments on street furniture, particularly tall structures like lampposts, can be dangerous." The council added: "Lampposts and other street furniture need to be protected which is why highways staff across the city removed around 200 advertising banners and flags that had been attached to lampposts since the start of this year. "They take down attachments from lampposts routinely, including advertising signs, bunting trails and flags." 'PROUD OF COMMUNITY' However, Councillor Simon Morrall, who represents Frankley Great Park on the city council, said it was a "clearly peaceful moment" that "residents love". He has also written to the council to suggest an "amnesty" on removing any flags until at least the end of August. Helen Ingram, a historian who lives in the area, told the Mail: "Since the flags appeared everyone in Northfield has been talking about them – friends, family, neighbours, even strangers. "Everyone I've spoken to loves them and there's a buzz in the air, an almost carnival-like atmosphere. Northfield was once a tight-knit community and it's heart-warming to get back that strong sense of community pride and unity. "Some of the residents of Northfield have pointed out that there are plenty of Palestinian, Ukrainian and Pride flags that fly freely around the city every day without issue. "They argue that flying a Union Jack or England flag aligns with this same spirit of being proud of your identity, your roots and the community that you represent. "That is surely a sentiment that a city council should be championing rather than condemning!" It comes after thousands of England flags put up on an estate to cheer on the Lionesses were ripped down by a mystery vandal. The area in South-East London is famous for its huge displays of flags and murals in support of the national team during major football tournaments.
