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Palestine–United Kingdom relations

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British–Palestinian relations
Map indicating locations of Palestine and United Kingdom

Palestine
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom does not recognise Palestine as a state.[1] The UK has a non-accredited Consulate General in Jerusalem that "represents the UK government in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza", and works on "political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and the Palestinian territories".[2] Husam Zomlot became head of the Palestine Mission to the United Kingdom in 2018.[3][4] The State of Palestine was represented in London by Manuel Hassassian,[5] the Palestinian General Delegate to the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2018. Another former Palestinian General Delegate to the UK was Afif Safieh, who began in that role in 1990.[citation needed] The UK House of Commons voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state in 2014, as a contribution towards achieving a negotiated two-state solution.[6] However, the UK government maintained its policy of reserving the right to recognize Palestine bilaterally at a more opportune time for peace efforts.

History

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Further information: Mandatory Palestine
British Foreign Secretary William Hague meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2013

Since the Six-Day War, the British government has been active to achieve a diplomatic settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The issue of a Palestinian state was raised already in July 1967 by Labour MP Paul Rose.[7] Margaret Thatcher generally supported a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation and was willing to consider some Palestine Liberation Organization involvement in this solution.[8]

In February 2021, the British Consul-General in Jerusalem, Philip Hall, condemned settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories as "illegal and an obstacle to restarting peace talks" between Israel and Palestine.[9] That same month, the Court of First Instance in Nablus ruled that the British government's Balfour Declaration in 1917 was invalid and called on the British government to issue an apology to the Palestinian people.[10] In April, the Palestinian government said that relations had reached a "low point" after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his opposition to an International Criminal Court investigation into alleged war crimes in the Israeli-occupied territories.[11][12] In May, Pro-Palestinian protests were held in London during that month's Israel–Palestine crisis.[13]

Economic relations

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From 1 July 1997 until 30 December 2020, trade between the Palestinian Authority and the UK was governed by the Palestinian Authority–European Union Association Agreement, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.[14] Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and the Palestinian Authority signed a continuity trade agreement on 18 February 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.[15][16] Trade value between Palestinian Authority and the United Kingdom was worth £69 million in 2022.[17]

Possible recognition of Palestine

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Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London in May 2021

In October 2014, the UK House of Commons passed a motion which called on the government to recognise Palestine as an independent state.[18] Also in October 2014, the devolved government of Scotland called for recognition of Palestine as an independent state and for the UK to open an embassy there.[19] Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Opposition, is a longtime advocate for Palestinian causes and repeatedly pledged to recognise the country if elected.[20]

In January 2024 the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron indicated that the United Kingdom could formally recognise and establish diplomatic relations to a Palestinian state during the negotiations for a peace deal of the Israel–Hamas war.[21] Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot remarked that it is the “first time a UK foreign secretary considers recognising the State of Palestine, bilaterally and in the UN, as a contribution to a peaceful solution rather than an outcome”.[22]

On 8 February 2024, Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy stated that a Labour government would consider unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state if they entered government in the 2024 general election.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UK Government recognition of the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  2. ^ "British Consulate-General Jerusalem". gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  3. ^ "About Us". Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom. n.d. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. ^ Hashem, Mohamed; Andrews, Frank (17 June 2021). "Husam Zomlot: Palestinian ambassador to UK disappointed with Labour response to Gaza bombing". Middle East Eye.
  5. ^ Country Profile: The Occupied Palestinian Territories Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "House of Commons – Parliamentary Debates" (PDF). Parliament of the United Kingdom. 13 October 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ^ "MIDDLE EAST (Hansard, 17 July 1967)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 17 July 1967.
  8. ^ "Middle East: MT letter to King Hussein of Jordan (Jordan, Israel and the PLO) ["Your discussions are most important in bringing the PLO to face the reality of their position"] [released 2013]". Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
  9. ^ "UK official condemns Israel settlements". Middle East Monitor. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Palestinian court rules Balfour Declaration invalid, urges UK apology". Jewish News. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  11. ^ Holmes, Oliver (15 April 2021). "Palestine condemns Boris Johnson for opposing ICC Israel investigation". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Palestine accuses UK of giving 'carte blanche to Israel' in opposing ICC probe". Middle East Eye. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Large protests held in solidarity with Palestinians around the world". Arab News. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  14. ^ "EU - Israel". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  15. ^ "UK and Palestinian Authority sign trade continuity agreement". GOV.UK. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2024.UK–Palatine Authority FTA
  16. ^ "UK and Palestinian Authority Sign Trade Continuity Agreement". Qatar News Agency. 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  17. ^ "UK trade agreements in effect". GOV.UK. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  18. ^ "MPs back Palestinian statehood alongside Israel". BBC News. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Calls to recognise Palestine". The Scottish Government. 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  20. ^ Mills, Jen (26 September 2018). "Jeremy Corbyn promises to 'recognise Palestinian state as soon as we take office'". Metro. London: DMG Media. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  21. ^ "UK considering recognising Palestine state, Lord Cameron says". BBC News. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  22. ^ "David Cameron pushes for 'irreversible progress' towards two-state solution". Financial Times. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Labour could unilaterally recognise Palestinian state, says David Lammy". Financial Times. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
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