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New Statesman
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Keir Starmer must use goodwill with Trump to expedite Palestinian statehood
Photo by Jane Barlow-Keir Starmer's decision to recognise a Palestinian state alongside France will be remembered as one of modern Britain's great foreign policy transformations. It marks a different approach from a new generation. And it has been a long time coming. 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
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Ireland has been ‘smeared' as a result of the Occupied Territories Bill, Foreign Affairs committee chair says
Ireland has been 'smeared' and 'bullied' over its stance on Gaza and the Occupied Territories Bill, chair to the Foreign Affairs Committee John Lahart has said.
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
With Mcebisi Jonas in limbo, SA is dangerously exposed to false US narratives
New challenges have emerged for South Africa's bilateral relations with the US after the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution calling for a full review of the relationship, which must now pass the House itself. In this context, and amid the little visible progress made by South Africa's special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, it is particularly concerning that Pretoria still finds itself without a fully accredited ambassador in Washington. Jonas' appointment was intended to stabilise relations after the dramatic expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool before the appointment of a new ambassador. However, while Jonas is an experienced and credible figure, well versed in statecraft and economic diplomacy, even the most qualified envoy cannot act if they are not granted access — and by most accounts, Jonas has been unable to even enter the US. Multiple sources have reported that Jonas was denied a diplomatic visa by Washington, effectively grounding the very individual meant to serve as Pretoria's bridge-builder. US officials have been silent on the matter, while South Africa's Presidency has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, but has insisted Jonas is working 'behind the scenes'. This is useful, but diplomacy does not occur behind closed doors alone; it requires presence, visibility, and access. This is especially true in a place like Washington, where decisions are often influenced through informal networking as much as they are through formal negotiation. At the same time the US-South Africa trade relationship and notably our membership of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, Agoa, which enables exporters preferential access to the US market, is also under threat. The Trump administration has been clear about its intention to impose sweeping tariffs on countries across the board, and signalled that Agoa renewal is by no means guaranteed. Key sectors face potentially devastating consequences. Averting further escalation South Africa has proposed a framework agreement to avert further escalation, but implementation requires intensive, high-level engagement in Washington. The issue is not that Jonas lacks competence, but rather that the current arrangement is structurally flawed. A special envoy denied entry to the country he is meant to engage cannot serve as the country's effective diplomatic point person. This is not a reflection on Jonas, but on the untenability of his position. Pretoria must thus urgently consider appointing a new, formally accredited ambassador to the United States — someone acceptable to Washington, with the diplomatic standing to be received at the appropriate levels, and with the political dexterity to navigate what has become an unusually hostile climate. There is precedent for special envoys playing useful behind-the-scenes roles, but these are typically complementary to, not substitutes for, formal diplomatic channels. South Africa's decision not to rush a new appointment may have been calculated. Given the acrimony surrounding Rasool's expulsion, Pretoria has probably sought to avoid appearing to capitulate or endorse the basis for his removal. But that moment has passed. The longer the post remains vacant, the more likely South Africa's absence is interpreted not as defiance, but as disengagement. Ultimately, it sends the wrong signal to its allies, adversaries, and the South African public. It also leaves South Africa dangerously exposed to narratives it cannot contest in real time. US right-wing media and several lawmakers have infamously amplified unfounded claims of a 'white genocide' in South Africa, which then not only entered mainstream discourse but also shaped US policy, culminating in the recent arrival of Afrikaner 'refugees' in the US. Without a strong and present ambassador to push back forcefully, this kind of distortion risks calcifying into accepted wisdom among Washington decision-makers, with South Africa becoming an ideological talking point in a wider culture war it never intended to join. Beyond managing crises, a new ambassador would also be important in shaping what remains salvageable in the bilateral relationship. The US remains a vital trade and investment partner. And Washington, despite its flaws, is still a power that can make, or break, international norms (at least for now). Pretoria has made clear that it will not be bullied into submission, which is both consistent with the ANC's post-liberation foreign policy and broadly defensible in a world where smaller states must assert their sovereignty. But resistance should not and does not mean retreat — strategic diplomacy requires being both principled and present. Re-engagement with Washington should not have to translate into abandoning South Africa's position on multipolarity or Palestine or its relationship with BRICS+, but does mean ensuring these positions are articulated clearly and defended robustly in the arenas that matter. Right now, that defence is not happening. It cannot happen without someone physically in the room. Good faith If the US administration had no ambassador in Pretoria for six months while threatening trade sanctions, few would interpret it as a gesture of good faith. The same logic applies in reverse. The appointment of a new ambassador won't resolve all points of tension. But it will signal seriousness, restore basic diplomatic protocol, and could help in reclaiming some narrative agency. It would also give South Africa the ability to engage Congress, the State Department, and US civil society on its own terms, rather than as a passive subject of increasingly hostile debate. This is not about capitulation. It is about capacity. Pretoria cannot afford to appear adrift. Now is the time to fill that post in Washington to counter those speaking in our place. DM
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Starvation spreads in Gaza as European powers discuss ending the catastrophe - War on Gaza
Aid groups warned of surging numbers of malnourished children in war-ravaged Gaza as a trio of European powers prepared to hold an "emergency call" Friday on the deepening humanitarian crisis. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that a quarter of the young children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers it had screened at its clinics last week were malnourished, a day after the United Nations said one in five children in Gaza City were suffering from malnutrition. With fears of mass starvation growing, Britain, France and Germany were set to hold an emergency call to push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and discuss steps towards Palestinian statehood. "I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. The UK is facing renewed pressure to recognise the state of Palestine after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged France would do so by September, prompting fresh calls for Britain to act. Demands for immediate recognition had already been building across Westminster and are expected to intensify following the French announcement, according to the BBC. A report published Friday by the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee also urged the government to recognise Palestinian statehood without delay. Labour figures have voiced support for recognition, while the Liberal Democrats warned the UK should not fall behind its European allies on the issue. Downing Street, however, continues to insist a ceasefire must come first, with ministers maintaining that sovereignty must be 'exercised at the moment of attaining statehood'. "The UK has missed multiple opportunities to act decisively in the past. We must not let another opportunity pass us by," wrote Emily Thornberry, the Chair of the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, urging her government to recognise the State of Palestine. We have published our report on the Israel-Palestine conflict. We have spent the last nine months taking evidence on the conflict. Today, we are calling on the Government to act more boldly and bravely to deliver a two-state solution. Read the report ⬇️ — Foreign Affairs Committee (@CommonsForeign) July 25, 2025 Israel/US quit The call between European leaders comes after hopes of a new ceasefire in Gaza faded on Thursday when Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar. US envoy Steve Witkoff accused the Palestinian militant group of not "acting in good faith". President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, drawing a furious rebuke from Israel. Displaced Palestinians try to take what remains in a pot of lentil soup at a food distribution point in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on July 25, 2025. AFP 'Mass starvation' More than 100 aid and human rights groups warned this week that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza. Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for the deepening crisis, which the World Health Organization has called "man-made". Israel placed the Gaza Strip under an aid blockade in March, which it only partially eased two months later. The trickle of aid since then has been controlled by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, replacing the longstanding UN-led distribution system. Aid groups have refused to work with it, accusing it of aiding Israeli military goals. The GHF system, in which Gazans have to travel long distances and join huge queues to reach one of four sites, has often proved deadly, with the UN saying that more than 750 Palestinian aid-seekers have been killed by Israeli forces near GHF centres since late May. An AFP photographer saw bloodied patients, wounded while attempting to get humanitarian aid, being treated on the floor of Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis on Thursday. Accusing Israel of the "weaponisation of food", MSF said that: "Across screenings of children aged six months to five years old and pregnant and breastfeeding women, at MSF facilities last week, 25 per cent were malnourished." It said malnutrition cases had quadrupled since May 18 at its Gaza City clinic and that the facility was enrolling 25 new patients every day. Aid groups and medics have also warned that a lack of food is preventing the sick and wounded from recovering. US Representative Wesley Bell, whose primary race saw heavy influence from pro-Israel groups, has condemned Israel's starvation of civilians in Gaza and the attacks on aid seekers searching for food, stating, 'This is not self-defense. It must stop.' — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 25, 2025 'High risk of dying' On Thursday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that one in five children in Gaza City were malnourished. Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said: "Most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying if they don't get the treatment they urgently need." He also warned that "UNRWA frontline health workers, are surviving on one small meal a day, often just lentils, if at all". EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / People mourn a relative at the Nasser hospital, one of several Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on the al-Mawasi refugee camp and the eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on July 24, 2025. (Photo by AFP) Lazzarini said that the agency had "the equivalent of 6,000 loaded trucks of food and medical supplies" ready to send into Gaza if Israel allowed "unrestricted and uninterrupted" access to the territory. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians and wounded nearly 150,000, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: Starvation spreads in Gaza as European powers discuss ending the catastrophe - War on Gaza
Aid groups warned of surging numbers of malnourished children in war-ravaged Gaza as a trio of European powers prepared to hold an "emergency call" Friday on the deepening humanitarian crisis. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that a quarter of the young children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers it had screened at its clinics last week were malnourished, a day after the United Nations said one in five children in Gaza City were suffering from malnutrition. With fears of mass starvation growing, Britain, France and Germany were set to hold an emergency call to push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and discuss steps towards Palestinian statehood. "I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. The UK is facing renewed pressure to recognise the state of Palestine after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged France would do so by September, prompting fresh calls for Britain to act. Demands for immediate recognition had already been building across Westminster and are expected to intensify following the French announcement, according to the BBC. A report published Friday by the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee also urged the government to recognise Palestinian statehood without delay. Labour figures have voiced support for recognition, while the Liberal Democrats warned the UK should not fall behind its European allies on the issue. Downing Street, however, continues to insist a ceasefire must come first, with ministers maintaining that sovereignty must be 'exercised at the moment of attaining statehood'. "The UK has missed multiple opportunities to act decisively in the past. We must not let another opportunity pass us by," wrote Emily Thornberry, the Chair of the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, urging her government to recognise the State of Palestine. We have published our report on the Israel-Palestine conflict. We have spent the last nine months taking evidence on the conflict. Today, we are calling on the Government to act more boldly and bravely to deliver a two-state solution. Read the report ⬇️ — Foreign Affairs Committee (@CommonsForeign) July 25, 2025 Israel/US quit The call between European leaders comes after hopes of a new ceasefire in Gaza faded on Thursday when Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar. US envoy Steve Witkoff accused the Palestinian militant group of not "acting in good faith". President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, drawing a furious rebuke from Israel. Displaced Palestinians try to take what remains in a pot of lentil soup at a food distribution point in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on July 25, 2025. AFP 'Mass starvation' More than 100 aid and human rights groups warned this week that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza. Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for the deepening crisis, which the World Health Organization has called "man-made". Israel placed the Gaza Strip under an aid blockade in March, which it only partially eased two months later. The trickle of aid since then has been controlled by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, replacing the longstanding UN-led distribution system. Aid groups have refused to work with it, accusing it of aiding Israeli military goals. The GHF system, in which Gazans have to travel long distances and join huge queues to reach one of four sites, has often proved deadly, with the UN saying that more than 750 Palestinian aid-seekers have been killed by Israeli forces near GHF centres since late May. An AFP photographer saw bloodied patients, wounded while attempting to get humanitarian aid, being treated on the floor of Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis on Thursday. Accusing Israel of the "weaponisation of food", MSF said that: "Across screenings of children aged six months to five years old and pregnant and breastfeeding women, at MSF facilities last week, 25 per cent were malnourished." It said malnutrition cases had quadrupled since May 18 at its Gaza City clinic and that the facility was enrolling 25 new patients every day. Aid groups and medics have also warned that a lack of food is preventing the sick and wounded from recovering. US Representative Wesley Bell, whose primary race saw heavy influence from pro-Israel groups, has condemned Israel's starvation of civilians in Gaza and the attacks on aid seekers searching for food, stating, 'This is not self-defense. It must stop.' — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 25, 2025 'High risk of dying' On Thursday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that one in five children in Gaza City were malnourished. Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said: "Most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying if they don't get the treatment they urgently need." He also warned that "UNRWA frontline health workers, are surviving on one small meal a day, often just lentils, if at all". EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / People mourn a relative at the Nasser hospital, one of several Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on the al-Mawasi refugee camp and the eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on July 24, 2025. (Photo by AFP) Lazzarini said that the agency had "the equivalent of 6,000 loaded trucks of food and medical supplies" ready to send into Gaza if Israel allowed "unrestricted and uninterrupted" access to the territory. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians and wounded nearly 150,000, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
