{UAH} British MPs Recognize Palestine State

British lawmakers have voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state, marking a significant change in political landscape and a symbolic value for Palestinians in their pursuit of international recognition.

Voting by 274 to 12, a majority of 262, MPs on all sides urged the Government to "recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel" as part of a "contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution," The Independent reported on Tuesday, October 14.

British MPs voted on Monday on an historic motion to symbolically recognize Palestine as an independent state.

Proposed by the chair of Labour Friends of Palestine, the back-bencher Labour MP Grahame Morris's motion also has the support of Liberal Democrat MPs.

The motion was significantly supported by Labour MPs, giving a strong indication that the party will recognize Palestine officials if it came to power in coming elections.

Not only Labour. The motion has received support even from previously staunch supporters of Israel within the Conservative Party.

The latest Israeli decision to annex Palestinian lands in the West Bank has changed the mind of Richard Ottaway, chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who felt he could vote to deny the Palestinians the right of recognition because of recent Israeli actions.

"I have been a friend of Israel long before I became a Tory," he told the House of Commons.

"I have stood by Israel through thick and thin. But I realise now that Israel has been slowly drifting away from world international public opinion.

"The annexation of the 950 acres of the West Bank just a few months ago has outraged me more than anything else in my political life. Under normal circumstances I would oppose this motion. But such is my anger over the behavior of Israel that I will not be opposing it. I have to say to the government of Israel – if it is losing people like me it is going to be losing a lot people."

Right To Exist

Some lawmakers saw the symbolic vote as a recognition of Palestinian right to exist.

"Refusing Palestinian recognition is tantamount to giving Israel the right of veto," Alan Duncan, the former international development minister, said.

"Recognizing Palestine is not about recognizing a government. It is states that are recognized not governments. It is the recognition of the right to exist as a state – it is not about endorsing a state that has to be in perfect working order. It is the principle of that recognition that this House should pass today."

On the other hand, Malcolm Rifkind, the former Foreign Secretary, said that such a move should not be adopted because it would be purely symbolic.

"For me the most important question is what practical benefit would passing this resolution make?" he asked.

"It might make us feel good. But recognizing a state should only happen when the territory in question has the basic requirements of a state. And through no fault of the Palestinians that is not true at the moment and it seems to me that the resolution before us is premature as we do not have a Palestinian government."

Presenting the motion, Morris said that Britain had "a unique historical connection – and a moral responsibility to the people of both Israel and Palestine".

"In 1920 we undertook a sacred trust to guide Palestine to statehood and to independence. That was nearly a century ago and the Palestinian people are still yet to have their rights recognized.

"This sacred trust is something we have neglected for far too long. But now we have a historic opportunity to atone for that neglect. We can take this small but historically important step," Morris added.

While Palestine is not recognized as an official member state at the United Nations and other global bodies, it was upgraded to a "non-member observer state" in 2012, despite strong Israeli, American and British opposition.

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"War is nothing but a  continuation of political intercourse, with a mixture of other means. Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest." 

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