On Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer announced that the government would join 147 countries in recognising a Palestinian state at September’s UN General Assembly, unless Israel took “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”, including agreeing to a ceasefire, committing to a long-term sustainable peace that leads to a two-state solution and enabling the UN to restart the provision of aid.
Starmer’s decision follows Macron’s announcement last week of plans to recognise Palestine and was swiftly followed by Canada.
He implored the UK government ‘to apply unyielding pressure where it belongs – on Hamas’
Rabbi Mirvis wrote: “So many in the Jewish community are viewing this as a profound betrayal of Israel’s quest to live free of terror on its borders”, adding that it would make diaspora communities more at risk. “As is often the case, when the Jewish state appears more vulnerable, extremists at home and abroad are emboldened, and Jewish people are more vulnerable as a result”.
He added that he implored the UK government “to apply unyielding pressure where it belongs – on Hamas, the single greatest danger to the population of Gaza and the principal obstacle to peace”.
Leaders of Progressive Judaism said ‘There must be no recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages are returned’
Leaders of Progressive Judaism Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky echoed Rabbi Mirvis, in stating that recognition of a Palestinian state “must not be a reward for violence. Hamas – a terrorist organisation that rejects Israel’s right to exist – continues to hold hostages and exerts control over parts of the Palestinian population”, adding: “There must be no recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages are returned, because to do otherwise would be to legitimise terrorism”.
Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky also said that there should be no recognition of a Palestinian state without the return of the hostages (photo: Zoe Norfolk)[Missing Credit]
However, their tone was cautiously optimistic, saying that if the UK government’s support for a Palestinian state “is part of a serious, credible effort to preserve and advance the two state solution, then that is something to be welcomed with hope.
“We are encouraged by any step that moves beyond symbolism and towards a real political horizon. Recognition, if rooted in the vision of two peoples living side by side, and tied to a process that promotes coexistence, moderation and mutual accountability, can be part of the solution we so urgently need.”
The rabbis said that it was for the UK government to ensure that recognition of a Palestinian state “strengthens the forces of peace, not extremism, and creates real leverage for a negotiated outcome. If this is a moment when words begin to align with action, then it deserves our support.”
