Dozens of former UK diplomats call on Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine

Middle East Eye

4 days ago

Dozens of former UK ambassadors and diplomats have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.
In a joint letter, more than 30 former UK ambassadors and 20 former senior British diplomats at the UN said that the 'deadly status quo' in Gaza, amid Israel's two-year war on the enclave, could be broken by the recognition of Palestine.
'The risks of inaction have profound, historic and catastrophic implications,' the letter said, adding that Israel 'cannot be secure from threats in the future if the question of Palestine is not taken forward to a political settlement'.
'In the face of the current horror and impunity, words are not enough … A partial suspension of arms sales, delays on trade talks and limited sanctions are far from the full extent of the pressure the UK can bring to bear on Israel,' the letter added.
It called recognising a Palestinian state a 'foundational first step towards breaking the deadly status quo'.
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The signatories of the joint statement included ex-UK ambassadors to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria and Turkey.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has publicly opposed unilateral recognition, insisting earlier this year that the UK would only recognise a Palestinian state "when we know it's going to happen and it's in sight".
'Grave' sin
Last month, France was preparing to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state at a major UN conference on the two-state solution beginning on 17 June in New York, which it was set to co-host with Saudi Arabia.
At the time, sources told Middle East Eye the proposed move had "unsettled" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
'In Gaza, the violence, starvation and dehumanisation being inflicted on the civilian population by the government of Israel becomes more depraved and unconscionable'
- Steve Cottrell, Archbishop of York
MEE understands that France was lobbying Britain to recognise a Palestinian state at the conference, alongside it.
In late May, Ron Dermer, Israel's strategic affairs minister, threatened Britain and France that Israel may annex parts of the West Bank if they recognised a Palestinian state.
And the US privately warned the two European countries against unilaterally recognising Palestine, sources in the British Foreign Office with knowledge of the matter told MEE.
Shortly afterwards, both countries reportedly decided against recognising Palestine.
The planned UN conference was then postponed in mid-June amid hostilities between Israel and Iran.
The letter from the diplomats came as Archbishop of York, Steve Cottrell, the de facto leader of the Church of England, said Israel's 'war of aggression' was a 'grave sin'.
'With each passing day in Gaza, the violence, starvation and dehumanisation being inflicted on the civilian population by the government of Israel becomes more depraved and unconscionable,' he said.
'In the name of God, I cry out against this barbaric assault on human life and dignity. It is a stain on the conscience of the international community, and a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law.'
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Cottrell added: 'I have condemned many times the horrific Hamas attacks on 7 October, and I continue to call for the release of those still cruelly held hostage. We deplore every assault on the innocent. But … this war is now one of aggression – it is a grave sin and it must stop.'
Earlier this week, nearly 60 British MPs and peers called for a full embargo on arms exports to Israel and for the government to be more transparent about the licences it grants for military exports.
More than 100 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died of starvation since Israel's total blockade of the Gaza Strip resumed in March, including 15 who died of malnutrition on Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid at distribution sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in place since May and manned by Israeli soldiers and US security contractors.
More than 59,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023, and more than 142,000 others have been wounded.