Deputy British Prime Minister David Lammy stated on Sunday that recognition of a Palestinian state would not immediately translate into its existence, emphasizing that any recognition must be part of a broader peace process, according to Reuters.
“Every step toward recognition is taken because we want to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution,” Lammy told Sky News, adding that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make a decision on recognition later this week.
In July, Starmer indicated that the UK would recognize Palestine unless Israel reached a ceasefire with Hamas, allowed increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, committed to no annexation of the West Bank, and engaged in a peace process leading to a two-state solution where Palestine coexists alongside Israel, Reuters reported.
Lammy noted that since the July announcement, recent developments—including the attack on Qatar—have fully undermined the ceasefire, leaving prospects for peace bleak. He also highlighted that Israel has continued with its West Bank settlement expansion plans.
