Macron presses for recognition of Palestine as ‘only path to peace'
He said: 'We are aware that a political way out is crucial, and I believe in the future of the two-state solution as a basis for regional security architecture which will enable Israel to live in peace and security alongside its neighbours.
'But I want to be clear, calling today for a ceasefire in Gaza without any condition, is just telling to the rest of the world that for us as Europeans, there is no double standard, and as we are attached to human lives, as we are attached to territorial integrity, we want the ceasefire, no discussion.
'And today, working together in order to recognise the state of Palestine and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace.'
David Lammy had earlier refused to set a time frame for when the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood.
The Foreign Secretary was asked at the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee when the timing would be right to recognise statehood.
He said: 'I'm not going to set it to a set time frame, because I've explained that this is a moving, live situation.
'There are delicate ceasefire negotiations under way. I've explained the issues that sit within that, and whether we will get a… ceasefire. I'm hopeful that we will.'
Mr Lammy said he was in talks with French and Saudi colleagues on recognition, but that he wanted to see change on the ground.
He said that 'despite the recognition movement, actually what we've seen is further annexation on the West Bank' and 'it has not led to get us getting closer to a process, it's led to further annexation'.
Mr Lammy said he 'would prefer it was part of the process' and that he believed 'our French colleagues are also waiting to see if there is, in fact, a ceasefire in the next few days' to kickstart a process and that the UK Government remained 'completely committed' to recognition.
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Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Effigies of Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans top loyalist bonfires
It comes the night after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on top of a bonfire in Moygashel in Co Tyrone despite widespread condemnation and concern. Earlier, Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged that a contentious loyalist bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast should not be set alight. The bonfire is on a site that contains asbestos and is also close to an electricity sub-station, which powers two major hospitals in the city. Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to 'exercise caution'. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members have appeared on a bonfire at Roden Street in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. Later, the NIEA said an inspection had taken place at the site. A statement said: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site. 'Approximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed.' It added: 'The risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site. 'NIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on July 16 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. 'Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.' Mr Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, told the BBC: 'There are many ways to celebrate, but not at this site. 'Personally, I respect how important the 11th and 12th is, I understand its importance, but I'd plead with people to exercise caution and not to light this bonfire if they could.' He added: 'The removal of asbestos is very complex and delicate, it requires the site to be completely vacated. 'The site has not been vacated and that's one of the important issues.' Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the site. 'If there's asbestos there, just don't go there,' he told the BBC. 'Any other circumstance, any other environment, be it a school, be it a hospital, be it a leisure centre, if there is asbestos there, you rope it off, you secure it and you remove it in a safe manner and you do not expose your general population to it.' The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. He said: 'I believe the council voted a couple of weeks ago for the bonfire to go ahead. 'A few days before it, then Sinn Fein and Alliance and the SDLP decide to vote against it.' Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan accused the DUP of political cowardice. He also urged people to stay away from the bonfire site, on account of what he described as a health and safety issue. 'It's clear that this site is completely contaminated with asbestos, it beggars belief,' he said. 'This is not an attack on Orange culture, this is clearly a health and safety issue. 'We're living in some sort of crazy parallel universe where an illegal bonfire (is) going to be lit, a fire which could cause criminal damage on a site contaminated with asbestos and right beside a power substation which provides power to the two main hospitals in Belfast. 'It is one particular party that isn't giving leadership … at the end of the day, I can't imagine anything similar happening in the constituency that I represent without every political leader here out shouting for its safe removal. 'The DUP have been absent, they are afraid to take on these people. They are political cowards when it comes to this, and it's disgraceful what they are doing.' Hundreds of bonfires will be lit on Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth of July. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. In a statement released ahead of the fire being lit, the PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees'.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Effigies of Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans top loyalist bonfires
It comes the night after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on top of a bonfire in Moygashel in Co Tyrone despite widespread condemnation and concern. Earlier, Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged that a contentious loyalist bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast should not be set alight. The bonfire is on a site that contains asbestos and is also close to an electricity sub-station, which powers two major hospitals in the city. Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to 'exercise caution'. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members have appeared on a bonfire at Roden Street in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. Later, the NIEA said an inspection had taken place at the site. A statement said: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site. 'Approximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed.' It added: 'The risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site. 'NIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on July 16 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. 'Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.' Mr Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, told the BBC: 'There are many ways to celebrate, but not at this site. 'Personally, I respect how important the 11th and 12th is, I understand its importance, but I'd plead with people to exercise caution and not to light this bonfire if they could.' He added: 'The removal of asbestos is very complex and delicate, it requires the site to be completely vacated. 'The site has not been vacated and that's one of the important issues.' Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the site. 'If there's asbestos there, just don't go there,' he told the BBC. 'Any other circumstance, any other environment, be it a school, be it a hospital, be it a leisure centre, if there is asbestos there, you rope it off, you secure it and you remove it in a safe manner and you do not expose your general population to it.' The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. He said: 'I believe the council voted a couple of weeks ago for the bonfire to go ahead. 'A few days before it, then Sinn Fein and Alliance and the SDLP decide to vote against it.' Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan accused the DUP of political cowardice. He also urged people to stay away from the bonfire site, on account of what he described as a health and safety issue. 'It's clear that this site is completely contaminated with asbestos, it beggars belief,' he said. 'This is not an attack on Orange culture, this is clearly a health and safety issue. 'We're living in some sort of crazy parallel universe where an illegal bonfire (is) going to be lit, a fire which could cause criminal damage on a site contaminated with asbestos and right beside a power substation which provides power to the two main hospitals in Belfast. 'It is one particular party that isn't giving leadership … at the end of the day, I can't imagine anything similar happening in the constituency that I represent without every political leader here out shouting for its safe removal. 'The DUP have been absent, they are afraid to take on these people. They are political cowards when it comes to this, and it's disgraceful what they are doing.' Hundreds of bonfires will be lit on Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth of July. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. In a statement released ahead of the fire being lit, the PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees'.
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Effigies of Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans top loyalist bonfires
It comes the night after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on top of a bonfire in Moygashel in Co Tyrone despite widespread condemnation and concern. Earlier, Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged that a contentious loyalist bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast should not be set alight. The bonfire is on a site that contains asbestos and is also close to an electricity sub-station, which powers two major hospitals in the city. Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to 'exercise caution'. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon Co Tyrone, which features a Kneecap poster with sectarian slogans (Niall Carson/PA) The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members have appeared on a bonfire at Roden Street in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Effigies of migrants in a boat burn atop a bonfire at Moygashel, Co Tyrone, ahead of events to mark the Twelfth of July (Niall Carson/PA) The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. Later, the NIEA said an inspection had taken place at the site. A statement said: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site. 'Approximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed.' Controversial loyalist bonfire in the Broadway Industrial Estate off the Donegall Road in south Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA) It added: 'The risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site. 'NIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on July 16 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. 'Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.' Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir pleaded with the public to 'not light the bonfire if they could' (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, told the BBC: 'There are many ways to celebrate, but not at this site. 'Personally, I respect how important the 11th and 12th is, I understand its importance, but I'd plead with people to exercise caution and not to light this bonfire if they could.' He added: 'The removal of asbestos is very complex and delicate, it requires the site to be completely vacated. 'The site has not been vacated and that's one of the important issues.' Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the site. 'If there's asbestos there, just don't go there,' he told the BBC. 'Any other circumstance, any other environment, be it a school, be it a hospital, be it a leisure centre, if there is asbestos there, you rope it off, you secure it and you remove it in a safe manner and you do not expose your general population to it.' Mervyn Gibson, the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' (Niall Carson/PA) The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. He said: 'I believe the council voted a couple of weeks ago for the bonfire to go ahead. 'A few days before it, then Sinn Fein and Alliance and the SDLP decide to vote against it.' Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan urged people to stay away from the bonfire as the site was 'a health and safety issue' (Rebecca Black/PA) Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan accused the DUP of political cowardice. He also urged people to stay away from the bonfire site, on account of what he described as a health and safety issue. 'It's clear that this site is completely contaminated with asbestos, it beggars belief,' he said. 'This is not an attack on Orange culture, this is clearly a health and safety issue. 'We're living in some sort of crazy parallel universe where an illegal bonfire (is) going to be lit, a fire which could cause criminal damage on a site contaminated with asbestos and right beside a power substation which provides power to the two main hospitals in Belfast. 'It is one particular party that isn't giving leadership … at the end of the day, I can't imagine anything similar happening in the constituency that I represent without every political leader here out shouting for its safe removal. 'The DUP have been absent, they are afraid to take on these people. They are political cowards when it comes to this, and it's disgraceful what they are doing.' Hundreds of bonfires will be lit on Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth of July. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. In a statement released ahead of the fire being lit, the PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees'.
