Our government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside Israel now, and without further delay or equivocation. Recognition does not punish Israel. It offers hope to those in Palestine and Israel working for peaceful coexistence, mutual security and equal rights.
The international court of justice has advised that Israel’s military occupation of East Jerusalem, the rest of the West Bank and Gaza is unlawful, and must be ended. Yet ministers in the Netanyahu government seem determined to Balkanise the West Bank with more and more illegal settlements, along with destroying viable life for Palestinians in Gaza. Both designed, it seems, to make impossible the very two-state solution to which the world has long been committed: a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israeli one. Yet how else can there be a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike?
This is no reward for terror. Rather, it reaffirms Israel’s recognised right to 78% of what was the British mandate territory. The Palestinian people have the self-same right to determine their own future, free from occupation.
It is fitting that the UK and France, which conspired together to carve up the Ottoman Levant through the infamous Sykes-Picot agreement, should now endorse that Palestinian right unconditionally.
France, Belgium and like-minded Commonwealth partners such as Canada and Australia can emulate us – but Britain needs to give a lead.
We ask our government to recognise Palestine now, for the common good of all in a region that needs peace and stability, not war, terror and mass starvation.
Eluned Morgan MS First minister of Wales
Andy Burnham Mayor, Greater Manchester
Emily Thornberry MP Chair, Commons foreign affairs select committee
Andy Slaughter MP Chair, Commons justice select committee
