Express.co.uk readers have had their say on whether Keir Starmer was right to announce plans to recognise Palestine as a state. The Prime Minister emerged yesterday afternoon to make the bombshell announcement, pledging to recognise Palestine as a state by September after major pressure from his hard-left backbenchers.
The UK Government will recognise a Palestinian state unilaterally before a meeting of the United Nations beginning on September 9, unless Israel ends the “appalling situation” in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process that would deliver a Palestinian state with its co-operation. Speaking to the Cabinet on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that “because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward”. Sir Keir said the move was designed to create “a long-term peaceful outcome”.
It came after French President Emmanuel Macron also announced plans for France to recognise Palestine, with both leaders sparking furious backlash from Israel and the United States.
Following Sir Keir’s speech, express.co.uk readers were asked to vote in a poll on whether he has taken the right course of action.
After 15 hours of voting, the results are in and it’s bad news for Keir Starmer.
A whopping 91% said Britain should not recognise Palestine as a state, compared to just 7% who backed the PM’s plan.
Reader Eileen Dover said that while she’s no lover of Israel or Benjamin Netanyahu, “they didn’t send paraglider over the border kidnap and kill hundreds of the Gaza civilians. What did Hamas think it would achieve? A slap on the wrist? On every TV broadcast when a news item appears about the situation in Gaza it is started with a statement about ‘Hamas who the UK government has labelled a terrorist organization’ yet it seems it does not stop them being recognised as a state.”
“If the people of Gaza want to be recognised as a part of an international state then perhaps they could start by getting rid of this organisation as it unofficial government, after all terrorist organisation can only be successful if they have the support of the local population.”
User reader said they weren’t surprised by the outcome of the poll, also pointing out that the UK Government has proscribed Hamas as a terrorist organisation while they’re in charge of Gaza.
“You recognise the place as a state, you’re in essence offering support. It’s a criminal offence to offer support to a terrorist group. So how exactly will it all work? I don’t want to be associated with them quite frankly.”
Peter Zac added: “I understand it is Hamas that is resisting any peace. I would love to see a two state solution, but Hamas needs to go first if that is to work.”
The move was condemned by the Conservatives in Britain, as well as by the United States and Israel itself, as a “reward for Hamas”, who will now be given the prize of statehood as a result of both the October 7 attacks and their refusal to hand back all Israeli hostages.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel fumed: “Keir Starmer’s plan to recognise a Palestiniain state in September is designed to appease his backbenchers.”
Jeremy Corbyn also slammed the announcement, saying Palestinian statehood “is not a bargaining chip. It is not a threat. It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people. Our demands on this shameful Government remain the same – end all arms sales to Israel, impose widespread sanctions, and stop the genocide now.”
