UK Labour Party will pursue recognition of Palestine once in power: Shadow foreign secretary

The UK Labour Party will work toward recognition of a Palestinian state if it wins the next general election, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Wednesday. (AFP/File)

• David Lammy spoke on same day Ireland, Spain, Norway announced recognition, PM called July general election
• Lammy slams Israeli politicians who want ‘no-state solution’

LONDON: The UK Labour Party will work toward recognition of a Palestinian state if it wins the next general election, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Wednesday.
His comments follow Ireland, Norway and Spain deciding to recognize Palestinian statehood, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing a general election for July 4.
Lammy said: “I think it’s important, or preferable, that recognition is part of the process to two states, and that’s why I place my emphasis on the two-state solution.”
He added: “I have been quite prepared to disagree with a position put by some politicians in Israel, that there can be a one-state solution or actually I think what is preferred is a no-state solution.”
Israel said it was recalling its ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said recognition of Palestine is the “right thing to do.” He added that innocent people in Gaza are enduring “appalling hardship and suffering,” and that recognition of Palestinian statehood is not a move against recognizing Israel’s right to exist.
His Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store said: “There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.” He added: “Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state.”