HISTORIC PRONOUNCEMENT UK CONSIDERS RECOGNISING PALESTINE AS AID TO UNRWA CUT
January 31, 2024In an historic announcement by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, last night stated that “Britain would bring forward the moment it formally recognizes the State of Palestine.”
This is a profound shift for the United Kingdom, which has no doubt followed the ruling by the International Court of Justice’s that there is a “plausible case” against Israel for GENOCIDE.
If I were to comment on this I would say the UK and the leaders including Lord Cameron and PM Rishi Sunak, are profoundly aware of the implications of them personally and their nation of continuing to blindly support Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinians, not only in Gaza but all Occupied Territories.
Following on this announcement other Parliamentary voices resonated on the recognition of Palestine and the ICJ ruling. From Labour’s David Lammy emphasizing inherent Palestinian rights to Jeremy Corbyn’s call for action on UNRWA funding and military aid suspension to be reinstated.
Lammy, a Labor Party representative, highlighted the party’s decade-long support for Palestinian recognition, emphasizing that statehood is the inherent right of the Palestinian people and not subject to the approval of neighboring nations. Lammy welcomed the Foreign Secretary’s adoption of this position, rejecting the idea that recognition should only occur after negotiations.
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the significant impact of the ICJ ruling globally, despite the UK government’s initial opposition to South Africa taking the case to the court. Corbyn expressed concern over the UK and US governments withdrawing funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). He urged the government to engage with Israel to ensure compliance with the ICJ ruling and suggested the suspension of British military aid to Israel until adherence to the ruling is confirmed.
#Palestine SHOULD be recognized. Recognition should not wait for a final status agreement – it should be part of efforts to achieve one.
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Credits to @DavidLammy @hzomlot @jeremycorbyn
#FreeGaza #PalestineSolidarity #GazaGenocide #UNRWA #EndGenocide #Palestine #ICJJustice #Gaza
Fo
English Script:
David Lammy: Mr. Speaker, for a decade now, the Labor Party has supported Palestinian recognition. As Keir Starmer has said, statehood is not the gift of a neighbor. It is the inevitable rights of the Palestinian people. I welcome the Foreign Secretary adopting this position and rejecting the notion that recognition can only follow the conclusion of negotiations. After the unacceptable comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that no country has a veto over the UK’s decision to recognize Palestine?
Jeremy Corbyn: The ICJ ruling is highly significant all around the world, despite the government’s opposition to South Africa even taking the case there. A few days later, news comes out of the issues facing UNRWA, the UK government, the US government and others and announced that withdrawing funding from it. Now I understand the British government’s payments are not due until April.
The immediate effect on the most desperate people in the world, that is the million people around Rafah trying to get something to eat, water to drink and medicines to be cured with are not getting that support they desperately need. Has his government been in touch with the Israeli government to demand that they adhere to the ICJ ruling? And will he, in the light of the ICJ ruling, also tell us that all British military aid to Israel has been suspended until such time as they abide by the ruling?
Andrew Mitchell: I can tell him in respect of his penultimate point that the prime minister spoke to President Biden on the 22nd of January and he discussed with the president the UK and American’s shared view and deep concerns about the terrible suffering and loss of civilian life. I have nothing to add to what I have already said about the ICJ ruling.
