Latest news with #Starmer
New Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Trump slams allies' plan to recognise Palestinian state
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has expressed displeasure with leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada for saying they plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Recent announcements by some of Washington's closest allies have only hardened the US president's stance against the move. While Trump slammed Canada for announcing its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at a United Nations meeting in September, he has been milder in his criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He dismissed Macron's decision, which got the ball rolling last week for other countries to consider similar steps, saying the statement did not "matter" and "doesn't carry much weight." Starmer this week said the UK will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes "substantive" steps, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Asked about Britain's decision after a trip to Scotland and talks with Starmer, Trump said he was "not in that camp, to be honest." According to Leavitt, Trump is now more critical of the push for recognition and believes it amounts to "rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a cease fire and to the release of all of the hostages."--AFP
The Hill
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
These key US allies are set to recognize Palestinian state
About three-quarters of countries in the United Nations (UN) recognize the Palestinian state, which holds a 'Permanent Observer State' status within the intergovernmental body — allowing it to be part of the proceedings, but unable to vote on resolutions. Three more countries — close U.S. allies — have joined the tally in the last week. Last week, France said that it would recognize Palestinian statehood, with President Emmanuel Macron stating the move is part of a commitment to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East. France became the first nation within the Group of Seven (G7) to do so. The announcement came shortly after negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas broke down, with the Jewish State and the U.S. pulling their negotiators from Qatar. President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff pinned the blame on Hamas and argued that the officials will consider 'alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, said last week that 'neither international conferences disconnected from reality nor unilateral statements at the UN will lead to peace.' Then this week, as the international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has continued, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom was ready to recognize Palestine's statehood if Israel does not manage to take action of ending the war with Hamas, a conflict that has been ongoing since the Palestinian militant group's terrorist attack on the Jewish State on Oct. 7, 2023. Starmer set the deadline for the UN's General Assembly in September, calling for an uptick in aid being delivered into the war-torn enclave and for Hamas to release the remaining hostages. 'I've always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution, with that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act,' Starmer said. Canada became the third close U.S. ally this week to announce it would recognize the Palestinian state. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would provide recognition of the state in September at the UN's General Assembly, a decision that would entail the Palestinian Authority 'holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.' Trump said on Truth Social that Canada's decision would make it hard for the U.S. to reach a trade agreement with Ottawa. On Monday, the president said that the U.S. would set up 'food centers' in Gaza as food distribution in the enclave has come under intense scrutiny and deaths of Gazans from starvation. Trump also acknowledged that there is starvation among the roughly 2.1 million population in Gaza, sharing a different view from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that no one is starving in the enclave. The White House said on Thursday that Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee would be in Gaza on Friday to 'inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear first-hand about this dire situation on the ground.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Fury as number of foreign sex offenders & violent criminals jailed in England and Wales hits record high
THE NUMBER of foreign sex and violent offenders locked up in England and Wales has soared to record highs, damning new data reveals. Official figures show 1,731 foreign-national sex offenders were in prison in June - up nearly 10 per cent in a year and almost three times the rate of British offenders. 2 'They need to be kicked out of the country immediately. Starmer must suspend visas and aid until countries take back their nationals', says Robert Jenrick Credit: PA Violent Shadow Justice Secretary "They need to be kicked out of the country immediately. Albanians remain the largest foreign nationality in UK prisons, with 1,193 behind bars - many for drug offences. READ MORE ON PRISONS Poles, Romanians and Irish make up the next biggest groups, followed by Lithuanians and Foreign nationals now account for more than one in 10 sex offenders and violent criminals in custody, and one in five drug offenders. The new figures, published by the Ministry of Justice, follow months of pressure for greater transparency on the nationality of offenders. Some of the Most read in The Sun The Sun also recently revealed that four in ten people charged over sex attacks in London in the last seven years were foreign nationals. Police figures showed these migrants were behind 2,809 of the 7,798 alleged crimes recorded in the capital since 2018 - despite making up less than a quarter of the city's population. Manchester Police Raids smash down doors in early morning raids on postal drug dealers 2 The number of foreign sex and violent offenders locked up in England and Wales has soared to record highs Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Fury as number of foreign sex offenders & violent criminals jailed in England and Wales hits record high
Foreign nationals also make up a staggering percentage of those charged with sex attacks in London over the last seven years FOREIGN CONS UP Fury as number of foreign sex offenders & violent criminals jailed in England and Wales hits record high Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE NUMBER of foreign sex and violent offenders locked up in England and Wales has soared to record highs, damning new data reveals. Official figures show 1,731 foreign-national sex offenders were in prison in June - up nearly 10 per cent in a year and almost three times the rate of British offenders. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 'They need to be kicked out of the country immediately. Starmer must suspend visas and aid until countries take back their nationals', says Robert Jenrick Credit: PA Violent foreign inmates hit 3,250 - the highest since records began - with an 8.8 per cent annual rise, nearly double the 4.8 per cent for UK nationals. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'Instead of releasing criminals early to free up prison space, the Government must deport every single one of these foreign offenders. "They need to be kicked out of the country immediately. Starmer must suspend visas and aid until countries take back their nationals.' Albanians remain the largest foreign nationality in UK prisons, with 1,193 behind bars - many for drug offences. Poles, Romanians and Irish make up the next biggest groups, followed by Lithuanians and Jamaicans. Foreign nationals now account for more than one in 10 sex offenders and violent criminals in custody, and one in five drug offenders. The new figures, published by the Ministry of Justice, follow months of pressure for greater transparency on the nationality of offenders. Some of the protests at asylum hotels have been sparked by alleged sex attacks by migrants. The Sun also recently revealed that four in ten people charged over sex attacks in London in the last seven years were foreign nationals. Police figures showed these migrants were behind 2,809 of the 7,798 alleged crimes recorded in the capital since 2018 - despite making up less than a quarter of the city's population. Manchester Police Raids smash down doors in early morning raids on postal drug dealers
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
El-Sisi commends UK stance on Palestinian statehood in phone call with Starmer - Foreign Affairs
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi commended PM Keir Starmer for his recent announcements that the UK would recognize the State of Palestine in September if Israel does not immediately agree to ending the war and blockade in Gaza. During a phone call on Thursday with the UK PM, the Egyptian president described the recent UK step as a "positive impetus" toward securing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This includes their right to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, El-Sisi added, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency. Furthermore, the Egyptian president reiterated that a just and comprehensive two-state solution is the only path to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. President El-Sisi also shared with PM Starmer Egypt's vision for de-escalating the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the statement noted. Additionally, he highlighted Egypt's continuous efforts to secure a ceasefire, expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, and facilitate the release of captives and detainees. President El-Sisi also urged that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip begin as soon as possible and reaffirmed Egypt's firm rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands. On Monday, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that Egypt is committed to organizing an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza once the Israeli war on the Palestinian Strip ends. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Starmer announced the UK will formally recognize the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various "substantive steps" in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire. Starmer told his ministers that London will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September if the Israeli government has not taken the steps demanded, his office said. They include ending "the appalling situation in Gaza", reaching a ceasefire, making "clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank", and committing "to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution," it added. "I have always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution," Starmer later said in a Downing Street address. "With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act." The UK is one of several Western countries that have recently indicated their intent to recognize Palestinian statehood. Last week, France announced its intent to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. Canada and Malta made a similar announcement on Thursday. This shift comes amid growing global outrage over the images of Palestinians dying of hunger from starvation due to a five-month-long Israeli blockade on all food, water, and medicine to the strip. It also comes amid increasing international pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza and cease its settlement expansion in the West Bank. To date, 147 of the 193 UN member states—roughly three-quarters—have recognised the Palestinian state. Since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, several countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia. Since 2012, Palestine has been granted non-member observer status at the UN There have even been calls for Palestine to be granted full membership to the UN, a move that would grant it the right to vote and fully participate. In its genocidal war in Gaza since October 2023, Israel has killed 60,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 150,000, mostly women and children. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
