London Breaks with Washington
It's Done: UK to Recognize a Palestinian State This Weekend
Starmer prepares to announce recognition of a Palestinian state after Trump’s visit, a move that could reshape the diplomatic balance before the UN assembly
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce formal recognition of a Palestinian state before the weekend is over, according to a report in The Times.
Yet the timing of the declaration is as delicate as the move itself.
Starmer has delayed the announcement until after the departure of US President Donald Trump, who is currently visiting the United Kingdom. The two leaders are scheduled to meet at Starmer’s countryside residence on Thursday. For now the prime minister prefers to avoid a clash during the visit, mindful that Washington opposes such a step in the strongest terms. Trump, echoing Israel’s position, has said recognition would amount to a reward for Hamas.
The seeds of this moment were planted back in July, when London warned that if Israel did not halt its military campaign in Gaza and commit to a two state solution, Britain would join other Western nations in recognizing Palestine.
The announcement is expected before next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. Britain will not be alone. France, Canada and Australia are preparing to take the same step. Together these countries hope to create momentum for a diplomatic track that has long seemed buried beneath rubble and despair.
The gap between London and Washington is stark. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper this week condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza City as “utterly reckless and horrifying.” In her words, it would bring nothing but further bloodshed, kill innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages.
By contrast, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, traveling with Trump in London, voiced unwavering support for Israel. He argued that recognizing a Palestinian state now would embolden Hamas and reduce the chances of real peace. His warning that Israel might retaliate with annexation of Judea and Samaria was read by many as more than a hypothetical scenario.
Britain’s move, once it comes, will mark a dramatic turn in the Western approach to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. For decades London balanced between sympathy for Palestinian aspirations and close alignment with Israel and the United States. Now, as Gaza burns and global patience wears thin, Starmer’s government appears ready to shift weight.