UK ties 'Palestinian state' recognition to 'wider regional plan'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday announced that London is working with its allies to advance peace in the Middle East and end the ongoing war in Gaza. 

"Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war,” Starmer stated.

"That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace,” he added.

Starmer announced that he backs the recognition of a “Palestinian state.” However, he stressed that such recognition has to be part of a wider regional peace plan. 

"Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis," Starmer argued. 

The British leader thereby indicated that London would not follow the French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement that Paris intends to unconditionally recognize a “Palestinian state” at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. 

"We must build the State of Palestine and ensure that, through its demilitarization and recognition by Israel, it contributes to the security of everyone in the Middle East," Macron recently announced without elaborating how France intends to implement this vision. 

The Starmer government is reportedly facing pressure from Washington and from conservative opposition lawmakers in Britain to refrain from officially recognizing “Palestine” in September.

U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio recently criticized France, stressing that Washington "strongly rejects (Macron's) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly."

"This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th," he added.

Despite pressure from Washington, it currently appears that the French Macron-led government will still go ahead with its announced intentions. 

U.S. President Donald Trump later tried to downplay France’s intention to recognize “Palestine,” arguing that it “doesn’t carry weight.”

Meanwhile, several Israeli ministers have suggested that if France formally recognizes a Palestinian state, Israel could respond by closing the French consulate in Jerusalem and unilaterally annexing parts of Judea and Samaria, also known internationally as the West Bank.

Over 140 countries worldwide have so far recognized a “Palestinian state” including multiple European countries. 

Last May, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized “Palestine” as a state despite the fact that it does not fulfill the definition of an independent state, which includes a well-defined territory and effective political control over the territory. 

Israel condemned Spain, Ireland and Norway, arguing that by recognizing “Palestine,” these countries rewarded Hamas for the Oct. 7 massacre.

If France proceeds with recognizing “Palestine,” it would be the first major Western power to take such a diplomatic step while overlooking the fact that both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority incite terrorism against Jews and reject Israel’s right to exist as the homeland of the Jewish people. Meanwhile, Germany and Italy, two leading European nations considered friendly to Israel, have indicated they will not follow France’s plan to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.