UK Set to Officially Recognize Palestine State This Weekend
According to a British news website, the United Kingdom is preparing to officially recognize the State of Palestine this weekend, following the return of US President Donald Trump to the United States after his official visit. The website "i" cites government sources indicating that this recognition could be announced within the next few days, once President Trump has left the country, and before the high-level meetings of foreign ministers at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, scheduled for next Monday. Officials expect Trump to be questioned about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's intentions regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state during their joint press conference today. They justify the delay in the announcement due to diplomatic pressure exerted on the government during the visit. These same officials claim that announcing such a decision during Trump's visit would have risked increasing tensions with Washington, as Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, continue to support the genocide and famine war waged by Israel in the Gaza Strip. In contrast to the US position, the UK has taken a firmer tone towards Israel. The Prime Minister and the new Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, have condemned what they describe as an "unbearable humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza. Yesterday, Cooper described the Israeli aggression as "irresponsible and absolutely horrific", warning that it would only "provoke more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians, and put the remaining hostages at risk". Starmer will not attend the UN meeting in New York next week. The UK will be represented by Cooper and David Lammy, who recently took office as Deputy Prime Minister after serving as Foreign Secretary until this month.
Key Points:
- The UK is set to officially recognize the State of Palestine this weekend
- The announcement is expected to be made after President Trump's departure from the UK
- The UK has taken a firmer tone towards Israel, condemning the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
- The US continues to support Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip
- The UK will be represented at the UN meeting in New York by Cooper and Lammy, rather than Starmer
