"Recognition is largely symbolic. When the UK's position was announced the then foreign secretary, David Lammy, said: It will not change the position on the ground. But it allows the UK to enter treaties with Palestine and would mean that the Palestine head of mission becomes a fully recognised ambassador. Some argue that a greater onus would be placed on the UK to boycott goods imported into the UK by Israel that come from the occupied territories."
"There are genuine fears that Israel is about to annex the West Bank or make Gaza so uninhabitable that Palestinians are forced over the borders into Jordan or Egypt, so destroying the possibility of a Palestinian homeland. Recognition that Palestine is a state with the right to self-determination is an attempt to show Israel cannot simply annex land that the international court of justice has declared to be illegally occupied."
"The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, is expected to announce the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon, despite fierce Israeli opposition and US pressure to reconsider. Starmer said in July he would recognise Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly in New York this month if Israel did not meet a series of conditions to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire and committing to a long-term peace process leading to a Palestinian state."
Recognition confers diplomatic status: the Palestinian head of mission would become a fully recognised ambassador and the UK could enter treaties with Palestine. Recognition is largely symbolic and may increase pressure to address goods produced in occupied territories but is primarily a statement about Palestine's future and disapproval of Israel's refusal to negotiate statehood. There are fears Israel may annex the West Bank or render Gaza uninhabitable, destroying prospects for a Palestinian homeland. Recognition asserts the right to self-determination and challenges annexation of territory deemed illegally occupied by the international court of justice. Starmer ties recognition to unmet humanitarian and ceasefire conditions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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