UK
Petition opposing Palestinian state recognition posted by Parliament, after JC reveals delay
‘The UK must insist on essential reforms before talks can proceed,’ the petition states
September 12, 2025 15:56
‘The UK must insist on essential reforms before talks can proceed,’ the petition states
September 12, 2025 15:56Less than 24 hours after the JC revealed that parliament had stalled for over three weeks on listing a petition opposing UK recognition of a Palestinian state, it has been uploaded to the parliamentary site.
Pro-Israel campaign group Stop The Hate launched its petition titled: "The UK Government should not unilaterally recognise a Palestinian State" on 20 August. Despite Parliament aiming to upload new additions to the parliamentary petitions' website within two weeks of their launch, after over three weeks it was still nowhere to be seen.
When the JC approached Parliament yesterday, a spokesperson blamed the absence of the petition on it being a "busy period".
They said: "Although we aim to process petitions within 10 working days it might take longer during very busy periods and high numbers of petition submissions. We seek to review petitions as efficiently and quickly as possible."
Today, the petition has been uploaded, giving supporters the opportunity to sign it, before the deadline of 12 March 2026.
It reads: "We urge the UK not to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state before a negotiated peace. We believe the UK should support direct talks, conditioned on Hamas releasing hostages, disarming, and leaving Gaza; and the PA (Palestinian Authority) ending ‘Pay to Slay’, removing extremist content from schools, and recognising Israel.
"We believe unilateral recognition rewards terrorism, betrays the hostages including those with UK ties, and damages peace efforts. We consider that lasting peace must come through direct negotiation, not unilaterally imposed statehood.
It continues: "We think the UK must insist on essential reforms before talks can proceed: Hamas disarmament, PA ending payments to convicted terrorists, and removing violent and racist incitement from the school curriculum. The Palestinian leadership must also recognise Israel’s right to exist for talks to succeed."
The petition had attracted more than 600 signatures within hours of being set live. Petitions that reach 100,000 signatures are almost always debated in Parliament.
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