Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, emphasized on Sunday that recognizing a Palestinian state would not automatically bring it into existence. He clarified that such a step is intended as part of a larger, ongoing peace process.
“We would take any step to recognize it because we want to keep the hope for a two-state solution alive,” Lammy told Sky News. He also indicated that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to make a decision on recognizing a Palestinian state later that very Sunday.
In July, Starmer had previously stated that Britain would recognize Palestine if certain conditions were met: Israel had to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas, allow more aid into Gaza, halt any annexation of the West Bank, and commit to a peace process aimed at establishing a two-state solution, where both a Palestinian state and Israel coexist.
However, Lammy pointed out recent setbacks. “Since that July announcement, especially following the attack on Qatar, the prospects for a ceasefire are now in tatters, and the situation looks bleak,” he remarked. He further highlighted that Israel had also moved ahead with its settlement plans, complicating efforts.