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Opinion: Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game
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<span class="field field-title">Opinion: Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game</span>
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<div class="field field-field-text"><p>On 29 July, <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">UK</a> Prime Minister Keir Starmer <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-words-on-gaza-29-july-2025" target="_blank">announced</a> that Britain would recognise a <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/palestine-state" target="_blank">Palestinian state</a> at the UN General Assembly in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace".</p>
<p>Of course, any British recognition of the state of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, if and when it happens, would mark a historic moment. Britain bears a unique responsibility as the author of the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/balfour-declaration-study-british-duplicity" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> and the mandatory power in Palestine.</p>
<p>If <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/why-is-britain-recognising-palestinian-state-what-does-it-mean-2025-07-29" target="_blank">recognition</a> does take place, it would reinforce the British government's stated support for a two-state solution, after decades of recognising only one state, <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a>, while denying the other.</p>
<p>It would chart a trajectory that rejects Israel's attempt to impose a one-state apartheid reality across the whole of historic Palestine.</p>
<p>It would set the terms for any future peace process, in which the end goal must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the British government's stated commitment to a two-state solution, as outlined in its announcement.</p>
<p>So why were Palestinians and others not out on the streets celebrating the British government's announcement that emerged from an emergency recall of the cabinet?</p>
<h3>Read more: <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-starmer-should-have-imposed-sanctions-israel">Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game</a> Opinion by <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/chris-doyle">Chris Doyle </a></h3>
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<div alt="A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6eb86022-ecf5-47d0-9892-684bb5cbebcb" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/images-story/protester-starmer-sign-london-4-june-2025-afp.jpg" width="1400" height="788" alt="A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high">
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<figcaption>A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)</figcaption>
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