Recognising Palestine would not reward Hamas, says Cabinet minister
Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Emmanuel Macron would 'reward terror' after he announced that France will recognise Palestine within weeks.
But on Monday Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said the Israeli prime minister was wrong and insisted formal Palestinian statehood must form part of a long-term peace process in the region.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to recall his Cabinet from its summer break for an emergency meeting on the war as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Reynolds was asked whether he agreed that immediate recognition would act as a reward for Hamas.
He said: 'No, I think that is not the right way to characterise it. I think we all recognise that both Israelis and Palestinians require a two-state solution. No matter how difficult that is, that requires a state to exist on both sides.
'This conflict has clearly been going on for a very long period of time. But the scale of the horrific scenes we are seeing, we've surely got to use this as a moment to move forward on a two-state solution and that is how we want to use recognition.'
Mr Macron said formally acknowledging Palestine would contribute to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East.
Risk of 'another Iranian proxy'
But rebuking his decision hours later, Mr Netanyahu said: 'We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre.
'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.'
The French president's remarks were also condemned by the White House although Donald Trump, his US counterpart, later said that it 'doesn't matter' what Mr Macron has to say.
Sir Keir will press Mr Trump on whether more can be done to end the Gaza conflict at a meeting in Scotland on Monday.
But his urging for securing a ceasefire raises the risk of a clash with the US president, who is staunchly opposed to recognition on the grounds that Hamas does not want peace.
It emerged on Monday that Sir Keir is preparing to recall his Cabinet despite the summer recess to hold emergency talks on war as aid charities and campaigners warn the humanitarian crisis is worse than ever.
Sir Keir has to date resisted calls to follow France by immediately recognising Palestine but is facing pressure from Cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner, his deputy, to do so.
A third of Labour MPs signed a letter on Friday saying it was time for 'immediate recognition', a policy move that Ms Rayner is understood to '100 per cent' support.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, are also understood to be in favour of such a move.
Bloomberg reported last week that Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, also wants to see Palestine recognised straight away, a view that is said to be shared by Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, said during a broadcast round last week he was 'deeply, deeply offended' by Israel's actions and was 'desperate' to see Palestine fully recognised.
Labour infighting costly at the polls
Labour has already been punished by Muslim and Left-wing voters at the ballot box over its initial refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire after the Oct 7 attacks.
Five independent MPs were elected at the last general election on a pro-Gaza ticket including Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir's predecessor who now sits as an independent MP.
Mr Corbyn and Zarah Sultana recently announced the launch of a new hard-Left party to fight Labour nationally. The pair have repeatedly accused Israel of committing 'genocide'.
It comes after Sir Keir's tone and language towards Israel hardened significantly in recent weeks.
The Prime Minister vowed over the weekend that the UK would evacuate children who required emergency medical aid from Gaza as he condemned a 'humanitarian catastrophe'.
He has also said the situation in the region is 'untenable' and repeatedly demands Mr Netanyahu commit to an immediate ceasefire, as well as to delivering aid to the region.
In a joint statement issued after a phone call on Friday evening, Mr Macron, Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, and Sir Keir said the 'appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting'.
They also appeared to criticise Israel over the 'starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people'.
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