UK Parliaments votes to recognise State of Palestine

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign project an image onto the Houses of Parliament.

The UK Parliament has emphatically voted by 274 votes to 12 to recognise the State of Palestine, writes Jack Mendel

The full motion stated: “That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution.”

The chamber began the debate late in the afternoon, with fewer than expected MPs attending.

Nonetheless, It became apparent during the course of the debate that there was cross party support, with the final vote eventually occurring shortly after 10pm.

The comprehensive result came as no surprise, with Government ministers abstaining.

Notable speeches came from shadow foreign minister, Labour’s Ian Lucas, who said a positive vote would strengthen the moderate voices among the Palestinians who want to pursue the path of politics, not the path of violence”.

He stressed that despite criticism that a yes vote would harm negotiations, that “This is not an alternative to negotiations, it is a bridge for beginning them”.

Conservative, and Jewish MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind outlined his support but stressed that: “Symbolism sometimes has a purpose, it sometimes has a role, but I have to say you do not recognise a state which has not yet got the fundamental ingredients that a state requires if it’s going to carry out its international functions.”

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