Palestine–United Kingdom relations

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Palestine–United Kingdom relations
Map indicating locations of Palestine and United Kingdom

Palestine
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom maintains a consulate-general in East Jerusalem to "work on political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and the Palestinian territories".[1] The consulate-general "represents the UK government in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza".[1] The State of Palestine was represented in London by Manuel Hassassian,[2] the Palestinian General Delegate to the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2018.[needs update?] Another former Palestinian General Delegate to the UK was Afif Safieh, who began in that role in 1990.[citation needed] The current Ambassador is Husam Zomlot.[3]

History[]

British Foreign Secretary William Hague meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2013

Since the Six-Day War, the British government has been active to achieve a diplomatic settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The issue of a Palestinian state was raised already in July 1967 by Labour MP Paul Rose.[4] Margaret Thatcher generally supported a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation and was willing to consider some Palestine Liberation Organization involvement in this solution.[5]

In February 2021, the British Consul-General in Jerusalem, Philip Hall, condemned settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories as "illegal and an obstacle to restarting peace talks" between Israel and Palestine.[6] That same month, the Court of First Instance in Nablus ruled that the British government's Balfour Declaration in 1917 was invalid and called on the British government to issue an apology to the Palestinian people.[7] In April, the Palestinian government said that relations had reached a "low point" after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his opposition to an International Criminal Court investigation into alleged war crimes in the Israeli-occupied territories.[8][9] In May, Pro-Palestinian protests were held in London during that month's Israel–Palestine crisis.[10]

Possible recognition of Palestine[]

Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London in May 2021

In September 2011, Britain said it would recognise Palestine as a state, but only with non-member observer status, rather than full membership, at the United Nations.[citation needed] In October 2014, the UK House of Commons passed a motion which called on the government to recognise Palestine as an independent state.[11] Also in October 2014, the devolved government of Scotland called for recognition of Palestine as an independent state and for the UK to open an embassy there.[12] Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Opposition, is a longtime advocate for Palestinian causes and repeatedly pledged to recognise the country if elected.[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "British Consulate-General Jerusalem". gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ Country Profile: The Occupied Palestinian Territories Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Hashem, Mohamed; Andrews, Frank (17 June 2021). "Husam Zomlot: Palestinian ambassador to UK disappointed with Labour response to Gaza bombing". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. ^ "MIDDLE EAST (Hansard, 17 July 1967)".
  5. ^ "Middle East: MT letter to King Hussein of Jordan (Jordan, Israel and the PLO) ["Your discussions are most important in bringing the PLO to face the reality of their position"] [released 2013]". Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
  6. ^ "UK official condemns Israel settlements". Middle East Monitor. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Palestinian court rules Balfour Declaration invalid, urges UK apology". Jewish News. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  8. ^ Holmes, Oliver (15 April 2021). "Palestine condemns Boris Johnson for opposing ICC Israel investigation". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Palestine accuses UK of giving 'carte blanche to Israel' in opposing ICC probe". Middle East Eye. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Large protests held in solidarity with Palestinians around the world". Arab News. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  11. ^ "MPs back Palestinian statehood alongside Israel". BBC News. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Calls to recognise Palestine". scotland.gov.uk. 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  13. ^ Mills, Jen (26 September 2018). "Jeremy Corbyn promises to 'recognise Palestinian state as soon as we take office'". Metro. London: DMG Media. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

External links[]

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