Palestine–United Kingdom relations

The United Kingdom maintains a consulate-general in East Jerusalem to "work on political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and the Palestinian territories".[1] The consulate-general "represents the UK government in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza".[1]

Palestine–United Kingdom relations

Palestine
United Kingdom

The State of Palestine was represented in London by Manuel Hassassian,[2] the Palestinian General Delegate to the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2018. Another former Palestinian General Delegate to the UK was Afif Safieh, who began in that role in 1990.

History

Since the Six-Day War, the British government has been active to achieve a diplomatic settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The issue of a Palestinian state was raised already in July 1967 by Labour MP Paul Rose.[3]

Margaret Thatcher supported in general a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation and was willing to consider some PLO involvement in this solution.[4]

Possible recognition of Palestine

In September 2011, Britain said it would recognise Palestine as a state, but only with non-member observer status, rather than full membership, at the United Nations.[5] In October 2014, the UK House of Commons passed a Motion which called on the Government to recognise Palestine as an independent state.[6] Also in October 2014, the devolved government of Scotland called for recognition of Palestine as an independent state and for the UK to open an Embassy.[7] Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Opposition, is a longtime advocate for Palestinian causes and repeatedly pledged to recognise the country if elected.[8]

See also

References
  1. "British Consulate-General Jerusalem". gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. Country Profile: The Occupied Palestinian Territories Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "MIDDLE EAST (Hansard, 17 July 1967)".
  4. "Middle East: MT letter to King Hussein of Jordan (Jordan, Israel and the PLO) ["Your discussions are most important in bringing the PLO to face the reality of their position"] [released 2013]". Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
  5. Staff writers (18 September 2011). "UK only backs 'Observer' status for Palestine". PressTV. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  6. "MPs back Palestinian statehood alongside Israel". BBC News. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  7. "Calls to recognise Palestine". scotland.gov.uk. 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  8. Mills, Jen (26 September 2018). "Jeremy Corbyn promises to 'recognise Palestinian state as soon as we take office'". Metro. London: DMG Media. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
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