LONDON: The UK Labour Party will pursue recognition of a Palestinian state if it wins the next general election, said the Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He made the remarks following the decision of Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize Palestinian statehood, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing a general election for July 4.
Lammy said: “I think it’s important, or preferable, that recognition is part of the process to two states, and that’s why I place my emphasis on the two-state solution.”
He said he always disagreed with a position put by some politicians in Israel, that there can be a one-state solution.
Israel has announced to recall its ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said recognition of Palestine’s statehood is the right thing to do. He added that innocent people in Gaza are facing hardship and suffering and that recognition of Palestinian statehood is not a move against recognizing Israel’s right to exist.
His Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store said peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved if there is no recognition. He added Palestinians have a fundamental right to have an independent state.
Meanwhile, Poland on Wednesday said that it supported a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis between Israel and Palestine.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his country will support the efforts of the High Representative of the European Union and other countries that believe in peace and dialogue.
