David Lammy will tell MPs that the UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state next month because Israel has shown no sign of meeting government demands. Government officials will carry out a formal assessment in the coming days to determine whether Israel complied with tests set out by the prime minister. With Benjamin Netanyahu's government hardening its positions on Gaza and the West Bank, Britain remains on a pathway to recognition. Preconditions include substantive steps to end the war in Gaza, agreeing a ceasefire, and a commitment not to annex parts of the West Bank. Reuters reported Israel considering annexation if countries press ahead with recognition.
David Lammy will tell MPs on Monday that the UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state next month, with Israel having shown no sign of meeting the government's demands. The foreign secretary will say in a Commons statement that government officials intend to carry out a formal assessment in the coming days of whether Israel has complied with the tests set out by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, last month.
But with Benjamin Netanyahu's government continuing to harden its position in respect to Gaza and the West Bank, the foreign secretary will confirm that Britain remains on the pathway to recognising Palestine. One UK official said: We will assess all the factors relevant to recognition. But as things stand, we're on a pathway to recognition later this month. Starmer said in August that the UK would recognise Palestine before the UN general assembly, which starts on 9 September, unless Israel met a series of preconditions.
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