The United Kingdom (UK) is considering a push at the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said as he tries to pitch a proposal to end the Gaza conflict.
Cameron’s comments were welcomed by the Palestinian ambassador in London but sparked a backlash from Conservative MPs who said early recognition would reward Hamas for its violent assault on Israel.
The former prime minister claimed that the action may result in ‘irreversible progress to a two-state solution’, after being included in the foreign affairs brief by Rishi Sunak last year.
“As that happens, we – with allies – will look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations,” reported BBC.
He also said that a deal would be ‘difficult’ but not impossible, adding that this could be one of the things that might help to make this process irreversible.
“Although it is incredibly difficult, although efforts in the past have failed, we cannot give up,” quoted the service broadcaster.
In addition, the foreign secretary called on Israel to permit increased humanitarian help into Gaza, calling it ‘ludicrous’ that essential material, including British and other supplies, was being turned away at the border.
Britain has traditionally been in favour of a two-state solution, in which Israelis and Palestinians would coexist in independent nations.
However, Cameron is proposing that formal diplomatic recognition for a state in Palestine may be granted by Britain earlier on in the peace process, even before a final peace agreement is reached.
“Together with that, almost most important of all, is to give the Palestinian people a political horizon so that they can see that there is going to be irreversible progress to a two-state solution and crucially the establishment of a Palestinian state,” said the former prime minister of the UK.
The Palestinians’ ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, called Cameron’s words a “significant” moment.
But Cameron’s fellow member of the Tory party, Theresa Villiers, said bringing forward the recognition of a Palestinian state would “reward Hamas’ atrocities”.
Regarding the ongoing efforts to put an end to the conflict in Gaza, Cameron stated that there were ‘hopeful signs’ that negotiations were underway and that the fighting needed to stop right away.
“Turn that pause into a sustainable ceasefire without a return to the fighting,” he said, adding that it would be truly difficult.
According to Cameron, Israel’s past thirty years have been ‘a story of failure’ as it is marked by a lack of success since the state has been unable to guarantee the safety of its people.
(with inputs AFP)
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