British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to Downing Street Monday evening as his government prepares to prematurely recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations later this month.
During their closed-door meeting, Abbas welcomed what he called Starmer’s “pledge to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month, unless Israel changes its course.” But the two did find some common ground on Hamas, with both parties agreeing there will be “absolutely no role” for the terrorist organization in Gaza’s future governance.
Starmer also used the meeting to press Abbas on Gaza’s deteriorating conditions. He reiterated Britain’s demands for “an urgent solution to end the horrific suffering and famine – starting with an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a huge surge in humanitarian aid,” his office said in a statement.
British policy has long been that Palestinian statehood should be recognized only through a peace settlement and in step with other allies. To recognize it prematurely, officials warned, would be an empty gesture with no real impact on the ground. But Starmer has bowed to European pressure, along with France, Canada, and Australia, in signaling readiness to abandon Israel.
“We continue to intend to recognize the state of Palestine before the UN General Assembly, subject to the conditions that we set out,” said Starmer.
Abbas made the trip to London after being blocked from the UN General Assembly by the US State Department last month. As part of a three-day official visit at Starmer’s invitation, the 89-year-old plans to use the talks to push for an end to “the aggression, destruction and starvation being inflicted upon the Palestinian people,” Wafa news reports.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog landed in Britain on Tuesday for an official visit focused on supporting a Jewish community under attack from rising antisemitism. It is not clear whether Herzog will meet Starmer during his visit.
Source link
