Britain will recognize Palestinian statehood in September if Israel does not agree to a lasting ceasefire, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday, July 29. That would make it the second major Western power to recognize a sovereign Palestinian state, following a similar announcement from French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, July 24.
Palestine’s ‘inalienable right’ to statehood
Starmer’s announcement, made during an ad hoc meeting of his Cabinet to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reinforces a similar statement he posted on X roughly an hour before Macron’s announcement on Thursday.
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“We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people,” Starmer wrote. “A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.”
During Tuesday’s meeting with his Cabinet, Starmer doubled down. He said his government will formally recognize a Palestinian state at a September gathering of the United Nations General Assembly, “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two state solution.”
Speaking to reporters after Starmer’s announcement, President Donald Trump said, “I’m not going to take a position. I don’t mind him taking a position. I’m looking for getting people fed right now.”
Macron leads the West
Starmer’s comments echo a similar promise made by Macron last Thursday. In a post on X, Macron wrote, “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” adding, “I will make a solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”
At the time, Macron’s comments drew immediate criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it rewarded terrorism and undermined Israel’s security. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also rejected the decision, calling it “reckless” and harmful to peace efforts.
US support for Israel continues to slip
Meanwhile, support for Israel’s military occupation of Gaza is continuing to slip in the U.S., both among the political class and everyday Americans.
On Monday, July 28, Trump broke with his Israeli counterpart in acknowledging Gaza’s widespread starvation –– a characterization Netanyahu’s administration has forcefully opposed. Also on Monday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., became the first GOP House member to label Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide.”
U.S. adults are also growing increasingly weary of Israel’s military operation. According to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, support for Israeli military action in Gaza has declined 10 percentage points to 32% since last September, marking a new low. In short, disapproval of Israel’s actions now sits at 60%. Gallup conducted its poll between July 7 and July 21.
Previous two-state negotiations failed
World leaders have attempted to negotiate a “two-state solution” in the past, but those efforts have failed. In 2000, President Bill Clinton convened peace talks between Israel and Palestinian leaders.
Clinton, a close ally of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, led those negotiations as his second term came to an end, but said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was unwilling to concede to the terms of the proposal.
