UK warns Israel not to retaliate against Palestinian statehood push

James Landalediplomatic correspondent andOttilie MitchellWatch: BBC speaks to Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper about Britain’s recognition of Palestinian statehoodForeign Secretary Yvette Cooper says she has warned Israel to not annex elements of the West Financial institution in retaliation for the UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.Cooper was talking to the BBC earlier than attending a convention on Monday on the UN in New York the place France and different European states are because of make the same announcement. In what was a major change in coverage, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer introduced the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday, together with Canada, Australia and Portugal. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the strikes, saying they offer “an enormous reward to terrorism”. Requested by the BBC if she was involved Israel would take this declaration as a pretext for annexing elements of the West Financial institution, Cooper mentioned she had made it clear to her Israeli counterpart that he and his authorities should not do this.She mentioned: “We’ve been clear that this resolution that we’re taking is about the easiest way to respect the safety for Israel in addition to the safety for Palestinians. “It is about defending peace and justice and crucially safety for the Center East and we are going to proceed to work with everybody throughout the area so as to have the ability to do this.”Cooper mentioned extremists on each side have been searching for to desert any prospect of a two-state resolution, which the UK had an ethical obligation to revive. “The straightforward factor to do could be to simply stroll away and to say properly it’s all simply too exhausting,” Cooper mentioned. “We simply suppose that’s mistaken once we’ve seen such devastation, such struggling.”Simply as we recognise Israel, the state of Israel … so we should additionally recognise the rights for the Palestinians to a state of their very own as properly.”She didn’t say when the UK’s Consulate Normal in East Jerusalem would change into a full embassy, saying it will proceed whereas a diplomatic course of started with the Palestinian Authority.Watch: Starmer says UK recognises Palestinian stateCooper will push to construct worldwide consensus on the UN Normal Meeting on a framework for peace within the Center East, the Overseas Workplace has mentioned.France will co-chair a gathering alongside Saudi Arabia addressing the trail to a two-state resolution to the battle, after it pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood in July. Belgium can be anticipated to observe France’s declaration on the assembly.Making the announcement on Sunday, Sir Keir mentioned he wished to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state resolution”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying that Palestinian statehood “is not going to occur”. Chatting with BBC Radio 4 At this time programme, Israeli authorities spokesperson David Mencer mentioned “the Jewish neighborhood won’t ever forgive Labour for this betrayal” and accused the prime minister of an “abandonment”. The US described the transfer as a diplomatic reward to Hamas after it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 individuals and taking 251 hostage.Sir Keir careworn this was not the case because the phrases of the popularity imply Hamas can have “no future, no position in authorities, no position in safety”.This message was echoed in a press release from the Overseas Workplace, which mentioned the overseas secretary would use the UN assembly to “guarantee violent terrorists like Hamas haven’t any position to play in the way forward for a Palestinian state”.The PM added that the choice was as an alternative a “pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli those who there is usually a higher future”, saying the “hunger and devastation [in Gaza] are completely insupportable”.Sir Keir, who has repeatedly mentioned Hamas can haven’t any position sooner or later governance of a Palestinian state, mentioned throughout his announcement that the UK had already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas and that he had directed work to sanction additional Hamas figures within the coming weeks.The UK’s minister for the Center East Hamish Falconer mentioned that “the time is true now as a result of a two-state resolution is beneath peril like by no means earlier than.””The menace to 2 states residing in peace, side-by-side has bought worse and worse, he informed BBC Breakfast. Hamas on Sunday welcomed the popularity as an “essential step in affirming the correct of our Palestinian individuals to their land and holy websites” however mentioned it have to be accompanied by “sensible measures” that will result in an “instant finish” to the battle.The Conservatives’ deputy chair Matt Vickers informed BBC Breakfast that the prime minister was “rewarding Hamas”. “Hamas has already mentioned this can be a victory for them and the evil issues they did on October 7”, he mentioned. Liberal Democrats chief Sir Ed Davey mentioned the transfer was “a necessary path” in direction of a two-state resolution however that “that is solely a primary step”. “We have to put stress on the Netanyahu authorities to cease the killing, to convey meals in for the individuals of Gaza, and in addition to get the hostages out.”Final week, a UN fee of inquiry mentioned that Israel had dedicated genocide in Gaza. Round 65,000 individuals have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza within the practically two-year battle. UN-backed well being specialists have additionally declared a famine in Gaza Metropolis.The Israeli Overseas Ministry mentioned the genocide report was primarily based on “Hamas lies” and poor analysis, calling it an “embarrassment to the authorized career”.Netanyahu has repeatedly denied hunger is happening in Gaza and has mentioned that the place there’s starvation, it’s the fault of help businesses and Hamas.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK’s resolution, saying it will assist pave the best way for the “state of Palestine to stay facet by facet with the state of Israel in safety, peace and good neighbourliness”.Palestine is at present recognised as a state by round 75% of the UN’s 193 member states, however has no internationally agreed boundaries, capital or military – making recognition largely symbolic.The 2-state resolution refers back to the creation of a Palestinian state within the West Financial institution and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, broadly alongside the strains that existed previous to the 1967 Arab-Israeli battle.Because of Israel’s army occupation within the West Financial institution, the Palestinian Authority, arrange within the wake of peace agreements within the Nineties, isn’t in full management of its land or individuals. In Gaza, the place Israel can be the occupying energy, Hamas has been the only ruler since 2007.UK ministers have highlighted the continued growth of Israeli settlements within the occupied West Financial institution, that are unlawful beneath worldwide legislation, as a key issue within the resolution to recognise Palestinian statehood.Mohammed Jarrar, mayor of the West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin, informed the BBC that “this Israeli authorities needs to annex the West Financial institution” – however careworn that recognition was essential as “it confirms the truth that the Palestinian individuals possess a state, even whether it is beneath occupation”.Netanyahu repeated his intentions on Sunday, saying “we doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and we are going to proceed on this path”.Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded to the information by calling for Israel to annex the West Financial institution and dismantle the Palestinian Authority.