Times letters: Legality of UK recognition of Palestine

Times

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Sir, Contrary to the claims of the 'top lawyers' in your report there is nothing startling or unlawful about the UK recognising Palestine ('Palestine vow breaks law, claim top lawyers', Jul 31). In fact the Montevideo Convention provides (Article 1) that a state should (not must) have a permanent population, defined territory, government and capacity to enter into relations with other states. Any entity that possesses all four attributes will certainly be a state, but that does not mean that entities that do not possess all four cannot be states too.
Many states start life with a contested status. Kosovo, for instance, was recognised as a state by the UK when it declared independence in 2008, an act of the UK that probably violated Serbia's sovereignty at the time. Even today, Kosovo's statehood remains contested. The status of both West and East Germany was highly disputed when they came into existence in 1949. There are many more examples. I am not arguing for or against recognition of Palestine; rather, that the position is more complex than portrayed.Professor Ryszard PiotrowiczDepartment of Law and Criminology, Aberystwyth University
Sir, What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The 40 peers maintain in their letter that recognition of a Palestinian state is unlawful owing to it lacking a 'defined territory'. If that were so, geometry would entail that Israel's territory too were undefined, but to withdraw recognition of Israeli statehood would be outrageous. Internationally recognised borders between the two territories, soon to be recognised as two states, are already defined.Joel LindopNorthwood, Middx
Sir, Regarding the letter from Brendan Russell (Jul 31) concerning the borders of Israel, two conventions signed by the UK take an ambiguous approach. One, signed in 1957, concerning social security, defined the territory of Israel (for the purposes of the convention) as 'the territory administered by the Government of Israel on the 19th of July, 1956'. The other, concerning taxation and signed in 1962, provides more simply that Israel is defined as 'the territory in which the Government of Israel levies taxation'. The diplomatic aspects of international conventions were of course tightly overseen at the relevant times by the Foreign Office in London.David RothenbergLondon NW3
Sir, Montevideo Convention rules apart, some link the recognition of a state of Palestine to independently monitored free and fair elections that exclude Hamas. However, were Hamas to be included on the ballot paper then Israel and the world would be able to see whether Palestinians were genuinely interested in peace and a credible, sustainable and realistic two-state solution.Julian PollardLondon NW4
Sir, Kemi Badenoch is concerned that we are 'no longer trusted by Israel' ('The PM has chosen to reward the terrorists', Jul 31). Does she seriously want the UK to trust and support a country that is effectively using starvation and illegal settlement in the West Bank to further its expansionist aims? It was an extremely cloth-eared response by the leader of the opposition.Douglas SmithTenterden, Kent
Sir, As you say, the relentless rise in the size of the civil service has a long history ('Less, minister', leading article, Jul 31). In 1968 the Fulton report called for 'accountable management' whereby departments would have clear objectives and leaders with management capability. We are still waiting. To be fair to the government, this prime minister has made the case for fundamental change to Whitehall far earlier than his predecessors (Tony Blair was elected in 1997; his key speech on civil service reform was 2004). Pat McFadden, minister for the Cabinet Office, rightly wants departments to promote and reward effective officials and let go the poor performers.
You are right to say that Whitehall should bring in commercial expertise. There are some green shoots: the new head of procurement at the Ministry of Defence, equivalent to a permanent secretary, is being recruited from industry on a salary much higher than the prime minister. That kind of appointment should be repeated in every government department with incentives to make savings, including to headcount.Andrew HaldenbyEffective Governance Forum
Sir, The murder of 40 churchgoers by an affiliate of Islamic State in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a reminder of the dangers posed by religious fundamentalism and faith-sponsored terrorism ('Keeping Faith', leading article, Jul 31). The Open Doors World Watch List for 2025 shows that more than 380 million Christians are suffering persecution. This amounts to one in seven Christians across the world who face 'high levels of persecution and discrimination' for their beliefs. Furthermore, 4,476 Christians were killed for their faith in 2024. Much of the persecution is in Africa and Asia, but the Middle East is a major culprit, with Yemen, Libya and Iran in the top ten worst offending states. The high levels of religious persecution go hand in hand with a disdain for democracy.
Worryingly, according to Freedom House, global freedom has declined for 19 consecutive years. Its latest survey showed that a significant number of countries, 60, experienced a decline in political rights and civil liberties, while only 34 had improvements. Safeguarding the rights of religious minorities is a hallmark of a healthy democracy. We should be concerned that this is becoming less common in a polarising and volatile world.Zaki CooperCouncil of Christians and Jews
Sir, The government is mistaken if it believes that economic growth derives from transport infrastructure projects such as Heathrow's expansion ('Airports plan for economic take-off', news, Jul 31). It clearly has failed to learn anything from the HS2 fiasco. There is no coherent regenerative and cross-regional strategy for transport in the UK. The destruction and clearance alone needed to build the third runway would cause immense problems for years. And if the prime minister's determination to see this through means bullying people out of their homes (as occurred to make way for HS2) then it will only enhance this government's growing reputation for authoritarianism.
What would help economic growth immediately is a reversal of the disastrous national insurance increase for businesses, which has forced unprecedented numbers to close. Expanding air travel in the present environmental, business and social climate is not the way to proceed.Robert CasselsWhittlesford, Cambs
Sir, The Higher Education Policy Institute report on the decline in languages is a clear and honest diagnosis of a very serious problem ('Alarming decline in learning languages', news, Jul 31). However, the main problem lies not so much with the uptake of languages by older pupils but more with the confused and confusing ways in which languages are taught at the very beginning. Why do we almost always teach French and Spanish to primary pupils and then do it all over again in secondary school?
Why is so little interest given to the multilingualism that so many of our pupils bring with them? Why are languages seen only as significant in economic terms when they are central to our pupils' sense of self and belonging, and to their understanding of each other? Tempora mutantur — the times are changing — but I am not sure that we have changed in our view of what languages are for and can do.John ClaughtonFormer chief master, King Edward's School, Birmingham
Sir, Your leading article ('Heritage Railway', Jul 28; letters, Jul 30 & 31) does not mention what should be the first and foremost improvement in any national rail reorganisation: the reliable provision of seats to all ticket holders. It is appalling to witness passengers having to stand despite having paid a high price for a seat and with no sign of reimbursement at the point of travel.Mary RawstorneIlminster, Somerset
Sir, Madeline Macdonald tells us of the extraordinary longevity of nylon (letter, Jul 31). My own favourite example of 'vintage' is a warm and comfortable rollneck sweater that I wear on our annual Christmas walking holiday. It is made of Orlon, was manufactured by St Michael in Scotland, according to the label, and was originally worn by my mother more than 60 years ago.Deborah LazarusLondon SW15
Sir, I understand Fields in Trust's concern around proposed planning reforms and their potential impact on children, including future Lionesses ('As parks disappear, where will future Lionesses play?', Thunderer, Jul 29). Building on playing fields would reduce opportunities for children to get active and be healthy outside. Healthy lifestyles are vital for a healthy economy: every £1 invested in community sport and physical activity generates more than £4 for society. Active lives save £10.5 billion a year for the health and care system, relieving pressure on the NHS. The ambition for economic growth through planning reforms is welcome. But the inadvertent loss of playing fields could undermine it.Chris BoardmanChair of Sport England
Sir, Michael Atherton's thoughtful article ('Rivals left desperate for bowling boost in finale', Jul 30) explains why the standards of batting (and fielding) have improved faster than that of bowling. However, surely the metamorphosis in shape and size of the cricket bat has reached a point that seriously favours its wielder. Comparison of the puny, curvy-edged bats we played with 40 years ago with the bludgeons batters are equipped with today provides a powerful addition to Atherton's reasons for today's superior batsmanship.David A De SaxeLambourn, Berks
Sir, The lord mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, is wrong to say that Ozzy Osbourne put the city on the map ('Thousands fill streets for Ozzy procession', Jul 31). Birmingham was already the crucible of the Industrial Revolution and home of the Lunar Society. Most importantly, it was the power base of Joe Chamberlain, perhaps the most consequential British politician of the late 19th century. As mayor, he gave the city the form it has today. The trust that is restoring his family home — Highbury Hall in Moseley — needs support. Perhaps Iqbal could devote some thought to that too?Sir John JenkinsMatfield, Kent
Sir, Lest readers disbelieve Nick Murray's cups of tea in bed while working for the NHS (letter, Jul 31), as a pre-registration house officer in Newcastle in 1965 I discovered that if you left your shoes outside your bedroom they were cleaned by one of the night porters. Moreover, there were monthly formal dining-in nights — free for us and a guinea for a guest. Halcyon days indeed.Nicholas WrightRichmond, Surrey
Sir, I knew the officer who lost two fingers from his right hand in the two periscope incidents (letter, Jul 30). At the crowded and often noisy bar at the submarine base in Faslane he would signal his order to bar staff by raising his damaged right hand. The steward behind the bar knew exactly what he meant: 'Four pints please!'Graham AntcliffeNewton Ferrers, Devon
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