Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has issued a warning to Israel against any plans to annex parts of the West Bank in response to the UK formally recognizing Palestinian statehood. Speaking to the BBC before a UN conference, Cooper emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution intertwined with both Palestinian and Israeli security.
This recognition is a pivotal policy shift announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who revealed the UK's stance alongside similar acknowledgments from Canada, Australia, and Portugal. In contrast, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, characterizing it as a reward for terrorism.
Cooper stressed the moral obligation to revive the hopes for a two-state solution, pointing to the extremists from both sides who threaten peace prospects. She affirmed, 'Just as we recognize Israel... we must also recognize the rights for the Palestinians to a state of their own.'
The backdrop of this political shift is marked by increasing violence and a UN report highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With approximately 65,000 lives lost due to the ongoing conflict, the UK’s decision aims to foster international consensus towards stabilizing the Middle East and addressing the plight of the Palestinian people.
As Cooper attends the UN General Assembly, where France and other states are expected to follow suit in recognizing Palestinian statehood, the implications of this decision on Israeli-Palestinian relations remain a focal point of international discourse.
