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Progressive Judaism: Two-state solution is ‘only sustainable path to peace’
The movement’s co-leaders reiterated their position after the UK Government officially recognised a Palestinian state
September 22, 2025 09:04
The movement’s co-leaders reiterated their position after the UK Government officially recognised a Palestinian state
September 22, 2025 09:04The UK Government’s recognition of a Palestinian state marks a “painful moment” for British Jewry and “must be more than a gesture”, with the release of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas “non-negotiable” measures that must accompany this decision, the heads of Progressive Judaism have said.
While recognition “feels to many like a reward” for Hamas’s terrorism, there are “those who through their pain will welcome the principle of recognition”, according to the movement’s co-leaders, Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy.
A two-state solution, they said, “remains the only sustainable path to peace, security and dignity for two peoples whose futures are bound together”.
Reflecting on Keir Starmer’s official recognition of a Palestinian state, the rabbis said in a statement: “This moment is painful. With the trauma of October 7 still so raw, and the plight of the hostages an open wound, recognition feels to many like a reward for violence or a diminishment of their suffering … Terror must never be rewarded. The taking of hostages, the rejection of Israel’s right to exist, and the targeting of civilians must be condemned without qualification. The release of all hostages and the disarming of Hamas are non-negotiable.
“At the same time, there are those who through their pain will welcome the principle of recognition: as a statement that peace must remain possible, and that the two-state solution remains the only sustainable path to peace, security and dignity for two peoples whose futures are bound together.
They continued: “As Jews we can hold these two voices at once.”
Turning to the question of what recognition would actually mean in practice, they said: “It must be more than a gesture. The Government has not done enough to explain the difference that this can make, or to give meaning to this decision.”
Reiterating their call for a two-state solution, the Progressive rabbis said: “Hamas rule must be ended – with the Palestinian leadership rejecting violence and terror, and building accountable institutions. The international community must support humanitarian aid, secure the release of hostages, protect civilians on both sides, and invest in the political and social foundations of peace.”
Benjamin Netanyahu and his government “must heed the cry of the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets to call for an end to this war and a just settlement for all in the region,” they added.
Their message echoed that of Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who has also maintained the vision of a two-state solution. Writing in today’s Times, Cooper said the UK had taken the “historic step” to recognise a Palestinian state to “protect a two-state solution”, which she argued was “the only path to security and a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike”.
Less than half of British Jews (49 per cent) support a two-state solution, according to polling released last week by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, down from 54 per cent a year ago, and more than three-quarters (77 per cent) 15 years ago when the body began conducting its annual survey.
Among Progressive Jews, 62 per cent favour a two-state solution, with 29 per cent against, while 41 per cent of modern Orthodox support the idea, and 49 per cent oppose it. Only 15 per cent of strictly Orthodox Jews back two states, with 15 per cent in favour. Half of secular or unaffiliated Jews support this approach, with 39 per cent in opposition.
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