The SNP has confirmed it will press ahead with its bill to
formally recognise the state of Palestine unless keeps to his promise and
recognises Palestine at the start of the UN General Assembly –
saying the right of the Palestinian people to their own state
must be based on ‘principle, not preconditions'.
Yesterday, bowed to mounting moral
pressure and confirmed the UK would move to recognise the state
of Palestine at the UN in September – however he immediately
placed conditions on this move, saying it would be dependent on
the actions of the Israeli state – a state which is
currently starving the population of Gaza.
The SNP Westminster Leader said that ‘recognising Palestine
should be in the hands of the people's elected representatives -
not in the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu.' – adding that the UK
should apply pressure on the Israeli government by stopping their
sale of weapons to them.
Last week, the SNP Westminster group confirmed that it will table
a Palestine Recognition Bill when the House of Commons returns in
September – if the Labour Government continued in its failure to
recognise Palestine and imposed further delays and further
preconditions.
In 2023, the SNP previously forced the UK Parliament to vote on
supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, at the time was refusing to support a
ceasefire and backed Israel's decision to collectively punish the
people of Gaza by cutting power, water and aid.
SNP Westminster Leader MP said,
“It seems this Prime Minister is incapable of doing the right
thing, at the right time and for the right reasons – recognising
the right of the Palestinian people to their own state must be
based on principle, not preconditions.
“Whilst it is obviously welcome that the UK Labour Government are
finally indicating that they are prepared to recognise Palestine
– placing those conditions under the control of Israel is
shocking and undermines the peaceful, equitable two state
solution that we all wish to see.
“Israel should receive no recognition or reward for stopping the
starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza – they should be
sanctioned for starving innocent children in the first
place.
“Keir Starmer's plan has effectively placed the UK's recognition
of a Palestinian state in the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu – the
head of an Israeli government that is inflicting a genocidal
assault on Gaza.
“Recognising Palestine should be in the hands of the people's
elected representatives - not in the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu.
That's why the SNP will press ahead and table the Palestine
Recognition Bill when the House of Commons returns in September
if the Labour Government fails to recognise Palestine at the
start of the UN General Assembly – if continues to delay and set
conditions, it is vital that MPs have a vote on the Palestinian
people's right to their own state.
“Stopping the assault and starvation in Gaza must be the
immediate priority for the international community – and that
will involve applying maximum pressure on the Israeli government
to end their bombing and blockade of aid. Instead of using the Palestinian state as
a bargaining chip - his government could easily apply that
pressure by stopping their sale of weapons to the Israeli
government.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The SNP has been allocated a slot for introducing a bill to the
House of Commons in early September and plans to use it to
introduce a Palestine Recognition Bill, if fails to do so at the start of
the UN General Assembly.
SNP threaten to force Palestine recognition vote as PM faces
pressure over Gaza.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/keir-starmer-snp-palestine-gaza-uk-parliament-b2796675.html
