UK Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure within his party and from the public due to his cautious stance on recognizing the state of Palestine.
The editorial office reports that in recent days, 221 MPs have called on Starmer to recognize Palestine. Even some members of the Cabinet are demanding that the Prime Minister reconsider this decision.
Starmer states that he supports the recognition of a Palestinian state in principle. However, in his view, this should only happen at the "right time" and within the framework of a "large-scale peace process." Nevertheless, the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sparked serious objections to this position within the party.
This week, Starmer met with US President Donald Trump in Scotland. The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the peace process were discussed at the meeting. Trump admitted during the meeting that there was "real starvation" in Gaza and stated that they wanted to establish "food centers" in the region together with European allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognize Palestine in September has also increased international pressure on Starmer. However, it is emphasized that Starmer is currently unwilling to take this step to avoid damaging relations with the US.
Some Labour Party MPs describe Starmer's position as "just words." One MP said: "People will no longer settle for anything less than recognition." Another MP stated that this issue is directly Starmer's responsibility and that this stance is damaging the party's credibility among voters.
Political observers, considering Starmer's legal background, believe he may have reservations about the legal implications of recognition. His distance from "gesture politics" is also considered one of the reasons influencing his decision.
Starmer is not expected to recognize Palestine before US President Trump's anticipated state visit in September. For this reason, a significant statement is not expected from Foreign Secretary David Lammy at this week's UN conference on a two-state solution.
However, it is possible that the UK may recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly after Trump's visit. Nevertheless, many Labour MPs believe that this delay could already prove costly for the party.
An MP from internal party sources warned: "The voters will not forgive us."
Today, the Financial Times also published an article on this matter.
Sevinj Karimova