LFI shares our government’s desire to end the devastating conflict in Gaza; secure the release of the Israeli hostages and address the catastrophic humanitarian situation by ensuring more desperately needed aid for its people; and help advance the cause of a two-state solution.
We strongly support a negotiated two-state solution as the only means to guarantee Israel’s security and to preserve its precious identity as a Jewish and democratic state, as well as to satisfy the legitimate demand of the Palestinian people for self-determination and national sovereignty. We continue to totally oppose any Israeli annexation of the West Bank and remain deeply concerned about the policies of the current Israeli government which we have consistently opposed.
Recognition of a Palestinian state outside of a meaningful peace process will change nothing on the ground and will damage our reputation as an impartial broker, reducing our ability to bring about a sustainable long-term peace.
It is important to recognise that Israel is not the only party to this conflict with agency.
Israel accepted a ceasefire proposal earlier this month but – as in the past – Hamas rejected this offer. Hamas could end this conflict tomorrow by releasing the hostages and laying down its arms.
The Palestinian Authority’s intransigence during negotiations in 2000, 2008 and 2014 and its policy of incitement to terrorism and violence has done nothing to further the cause of peace and a two-state solution.
Iran’s decades-long effort to destroy the world’s only Jewish state by arming and funding proxy terror armies remains an impediment to two states and a wider regional peace.
Recognition will be a merely symbolic act unless the UK uses its influence – along with its allies – to establish the principles of a meaningful pathway to a Palestinian state. These are:
- Secure a ceasefire and hostage deal, including a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza and Hamas removed from power;
- Support and incentivise reform of the Palestinian Authority, leading to the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip under PA authority;
- Ensure major international investment in people-to-people peacebuilding via an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace;
- Advance a two-state solution within the context of a wider regional framework for peace, encompassing normalisation with Israel’s neighbours and security arrangements. The UK and its allies must encourage Arab states to put equal and corresponding pressure on Hamas and be prepared to normalise relations with Israel at the UNGA.
In order to achieve our shared goals, we urge the government to now turn its attention to this path, the best way to achieve concrete progress.
