‘We will all rue the day‘: Israel thanks UK opposition leaders who slam recognition of ‘State of Palestine’

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday called to thank two leaders of opposition parties in the UK after they blasted the government for its decision to recognize a “State of Palestine”, alongside Canada, Australia and Portugal.

Keir Starmer, prime minister of Great Britain, said the recognition was meant to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution” and to bring about an “end to the conflict in Gaza.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating, “It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.” He also reiterated Israel’s position that the recognition is a clear sign of support to Hamas.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, called the decision “Disastrous. Absolutely disastrous,” in a statement on 𝕏.

Disastrous.
Absolutely disastrous.
We will all rue the day this decision was made.
Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas.

It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war.

It… https://t.co/7K0GH3VbQp

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) September 21, 2025

“We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas. It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war. It is because Labour cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left,” she wrote.

Sa’ar later called her to express “appreciation” for her stance while noting that Israel differentiates between the people and the government of England, his office stated.

“Minister Sa’ar emphasized the moral gravity and the political error of the British government’s decision to recognize a ‘Palestinian state.’ Ms. Badenoch expressed during the conversation (as she had also done publicly beforehand) her strong opposition to the British government’s decision. The two agreed to remain in contact. In addition, Foreign Minister Sa’ar invited Ms. Badenoch to visit Israel,” the statement read.

Badenoch’s party colleague Priti Patel blasted Starmer for “capitulating to the hard-left factions of his party” and said he lacked “all moral authority as his insincere gesture on recognition is all about protecting his own position as leader of the Labour Party rather than securing peace and stability.”

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, which is leading most recent opinion polls in Britain by a wide margin, wrote on 𝕏, “The Prime Minister is wrong to recognise a Palestinian state. This is a reward for the Hamas terrorists and will do nothing to bring about peace.”

Sa’ar called Farage to thank him “for his friendship”, noting that he had emphasized his opposition to recognizing a Palestinian state even before Sunday’s statement.

During the conversation, the two mentioned Hamas’ statement praising the British government’s decision.

Rupert Lowe, a member of parliament and the leader of the Restore Britain movement, said it was “An enormous mistake to recognise Palestine.”

“Rewarding intimidation, thug tactics and even terrorism. The Labour Party has one concern. Clinging on to Muslim votes - that is all. It is pathetic,“ he wrote on 𝕏.