Palestinian state recognition is a one shot opportunity for Starmer – but what does he want to achieve?
Keir Starmer will enter the emergency cabinet meeting under great political pressure in the afternoon to change the government policy and recognize a Palestinian state.
The discussion at the cabinet meeting will be part of a wider peace plan that the Prime Minister will reach to senior ministers. Sir Keir, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz-E3 will explain the details of a European peace plan, which he calls, to the public.
However, in the end, the question that will disturb Sir Keir will be to determine when the official recognition will have a maximum effect.
So today’s cabinet meeting will be about determining a way for recognition instead of doing it right away.
The problem is that recognizing a state is a one -time movement. Unlike a Brexit agreement or a trade agreement, it will not return to re -process some details more – but there is no room for error.
This means that Sir Keir should be sure that he will reach the goals he wants to do. The issue will be whether the solution of a political problem is more important than to use peace.
Existing policy
The current policy shaped by the Oslo agreements is to support a two-state solution and to recognize a Palestinian state as part of the peace process-without specifying when it will be.
Sir Keir went further and said on Thursday that the Palestinian state was a “unacceptable right” of the Palestinian state.
For some, this was taken as a powerful clue that it was closer to recognizing the real picture.
The reason why it is important is that when a state is officially recognized, it gains diplomatic status and its recognition by international organs in theory – so movement is not completely symbolic.
In addition, the historical status as the former colonial force that effectively created the modern Israeli state through British Balfour Declaration, enables the Palestinian state to add a symbolic weight.
Political oppression
President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to announce that France would be the first G7 country to recognize Palestinian state last week, increased the pressure of Sir Keir to follow the case.
Already the cabinet is divided into this issue, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner forced to recognize, while others like Rachel Reeves, others are closely linked to Israeli workers (LFI).
Recognition is supported by a clear majority in the Labor Party, and Jeremy Corbyn’s new party-Israel-Filestin on the left has made it a primary policy area-adding too much pressure.
With more than 250 deputies from nine different parties, there is a appetite in Westminster, with the signing of a letter supporting the proposal.
However, on the other side, weighing, Corbyn’s leadership, which is allowed to develop under the leadership of Corbyn, is a group of Israel’s friends (LFI), a group of Israel, a group that has made more powerful than the need in labor. It also has a number of high -level cabinet members.
The LFI supports a two -state solution and the ultimately recognition of a Palestinian state, but warns that Britain will spend the opportunity to maximize the effect if it begins to recognize early.
Everything About Trump
During the weekend, James Murray pointed out that 140 countries knew a Palestinian state, but it had no effect on the peace process.
Considering the attitude of Benjamin Netanyahu against the international criticism that the ship may have already sail, there is a feeling that Britain will destroy what rests from the decreasing influence on Israel.
The problem was that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized France’s statement last week, and that Starmer did not want to define the recognition question until I became a binary with Donald Trump in Scotland.
However, this meeting created a surprise with the US President hit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a very different line. Talked about the Palestinian state, Trump said: “I will not take a position, I don’t care about him [Starmer] Position. “
However, the British government seems to understand that the only way to put Israel in line and restart the peace process is that the Trump administration is forcing everyone’s hand.
If a Palestinian state continues to be recognized, there is a danger that it may lose its last influence on the White House.
But in the end, Sir Keir is respected abroad but loses control at home. Even if there is little effect on the peace process or even if it has no effect, it may decide that the recognition of the political problems it solves at home is worth doing.
