221 cross-party MPs urge Foreign Secretary to recognise a
Palestinian State ahead of UN Conference next week
, Member of Parliament for
Rotherham and Chair of the International Development Select
Committee, has coordinated a cross-party letter to the Prime
Minister and the Foreign Secretary, pressing for UK recognition
of Palestinian statehood at the forthcoming UN Conference, taking
place in New York on 28th-29th July. The letter is signed by 221
MPs, from nine political parties.[1]
It states, “We are expectant that the outcome of the conference
will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on
its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as
how it will work with international partners to make this a
reality.”
It argues that UK recognition would have a significant impact due
to the UK's historic connections and membership on the UN
Security Council.
A two-state solution has been the cross-party consensus for
decades, and something that the UK has supported since 1980.
Parliament also voted overwhelmingly in favour of recognition in
October 2014, and in November 2012. The then Conservative First
Secretary of State and MP for Richmond said, “We want to see a
Palestinian state and look forward to the day when its people can
enjoy the same rights and dignity as those of any other nation.”
[2, 3]
Commenting, Champion said: “Parliament has backed Palestinian
statehood for more than a decade. The broad support, from across
the House, that my joint letter has received, shows clearly the
strength of feeling from Parliamentarians in favour of
recognising the state of Palestine without delay.'
‘While recognition alone will not end the suffering in Gaza or
the rapid expansion of settlements and settler violence in the
West Bank, it is an important symbolic step on the path to the
two-state solution. That remains the only viable proposal to
secure a lasting peace for the region.'
‘Recognition would send a powerful symbolic message that we
support the rights of the Palestinian people, that they are not
alone and they need to maintain hope that there is a route that
leads to lasting peace and security for both the Israeli and the
Palestinian people.'
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] A full copy of the letter is available HERE
[2] 13th October 2014 Motion: That this House believes that
the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside
the state of Israel.
[3] 28th November 2012 Statement: The Lord Hague of Richmond on
Palestinian Resolution (United Nations)
