Labour MPs Clash With National Security Adviser Over Palestinian State Recognition
3 min read
Exclusive: A number of Labour MPs met UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell in a testy and emotionally charged conversation over the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
MPs associated with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) logged on to a online meeting on Thursday evening to discuss the consequences of recognising a Palestinian state. More than a dozen MPs and peers joined the call, including LFI chair Jon Pearce, justice minister Sarah Sackman, and PPS Josh Simons.
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, who worked for pro-Israel advocacy organisation We Believe In Israel before joining Parliament, opened the call, critiquing the government’s decision.
LFI briefed MPs to pressure Powell on whether the government would recognise a Palestinian state if Hamas still held hostages, had a role in Gaza and failed to commit to disarmament. The UK government has been clear that it is firmly on a path to recognition in September or as part of a renewed peace process, working towards a two-state solution.
Parliamentarians were also urged to push the government on why the Prime Minister was only placing conditions on Israel to end the conflict. There were also demands to know what pressure the UK was applying on Turkey and Qatar to enable Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.
The national security adviser told MPs the Prime Minister was appalled by the situation in Gaza, and recognising a Palestinian state could be used as leverage to end the war between Israel-Hamas and allow more aid into Gaza.
Powell also noted that public attitude had hardened, pointing to the front page of the Daily Express, which depicted an emaciated boy who was also suffering from a medical condition.
A source told PoliticsHome that MPs felt upset after coming off the 30-minute call. PoliticsHome understands some MPs are contemplating writing a letter to the government, urging them to reconsider recognising a Palestinian state in September.
The Prime Minister told his Cabinet on Tuesday that the government would recognise a Palestinian state unless the Israeli government decided to end the war and reach a ceasefire, commit to a long-term peace process and end annexation of the West Bank. The move – which has been criticised by President Trump – will come in lockstep with Canada and France.
Labour MPs were set to meet Powell last month in Downing Street over the issue before the United Nations conference on a Palestinian state, before it was postponed after the Israel-Iran 12-day war.
A government spokesperson said: "We have announced our intention to recognise Palestine in September to protect the viability of the two-state solution. The first step in that process must be a ceasefire and there is no question about that.
“Our demands on Hamas have not changed. For there to be any chance of peace, the hostages must be released. Hamas must lay down its weapons, and commit to having no future role in the governance of Gaza.
“We must also see significant progress on the ground including the supply of humanitarian support and for Israel to rule out annexations in the West Bank, and a commitment to a long-term sustainable peace. We will make an assessment ahead of UNGA on how far both Israel and Hamas have met the steps we set out. No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions."
