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| Commons debate Palestine statehood recognition | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Recognising Palestine as a state would be a "symbolically important" step towards peace, MPs have been told. | |
| Labour MP Grahame Morris, whose motion being debated in the Commons is backed by Labour's shadow cabinet, said relations between Israelis and Palestinians are "stuck at an impasse". | |
| The vote is symbolic but could have international implications. | |
| In 2012 the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to that of "non-member observer state". | In 2012 the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to that of "non-member observer state". |
| The assembly voted 138 to nine in favour, with 41 nations - including the UK - abstaining. | The assembly voted 138 to nine in favour, with 41 nations - including the UK - abstaining. |
| 'Two-state solution' | |
| Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers are set to abstain from the vote on Mr Morris's motion, which states that "this House believes that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel". | |
| Current UK government policy, as set out by former Foreign Secretary William Hague, is that it "reserves the right to recognise a Palestinian state bilaterally at the moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace". | Current UK government policy, as set out by former Foreign Secretary William Hague, is that it "reserves the right to recognise a Palestinian state bilaterally at the moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace". |
| Opening the debate, Mr Morris told MPs recognising Palestine would be a "small but symbolically-important" step towards peace. | |
| He said he would support an amendment from Labour's former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to recognise Palestine as a state as a "contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution". | |
| He said: "There are rejectionists in both Israel and Palestine, those that oppose any type of political settlement, and they would be delighted to learn that the British Parliament has refused what the vast majority of states around the world have already accepted." | |
| Another former foreign secretary, the Conservative Sir Malcolm Rifkind, said he too wanted to see a two-state solution but added: "Symbolism sometimes has a purpose, it sometimes has a role, but I have to say you do not recognise a state which has not yet got the fundamental ingredients that a state requires if it's going to carry out its international functions and therefore, at the very least, I would respectfully suggest this motion is premature." | |
| Conservative ministers will abstain, with the prime minister's official spokesman saying: "The government's position is very clear and hasn't changed, so I think that is a very clear indication of the British government's approach. | Conservative ministers will abstain, with the prime minister's official spokesman saying: "The government's position is very clear and hasn't changed, so I think that is a very clear indication of the British government's approach. |
| "The government's approach is a long-standing one and is in support of a two-state solution and we will continue to work with a range of international partners - Israel, the Palestinian Authority - in support of that." | "The government's approach is a long-standing one and is in support of a two-state solution and we will continue to work with a range of international partners - Israel, the Palestinian Authority - in support of that." |
| Speaking before the debate, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "It is Liberal Democrat party policy to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood. This is a timely debate and there are good arguments for moving to recognise Palestine now." | |
| He added: "But it is also a backbench debate where colleagues will want to express their own views. | He added: "But it is also a backbench debate where colleagues will want to express their own views. |
| "That is why Liberal Democrat ministers will be abstaining - in accordance with established practice that ministers don't vote on backbench motions - and backbenchers have a free vote." | "That is why Liberal Democrat ministers will be abstaining - in accordance with established practice that ministers don't vote on backbench motions - and backbenchers have a free vote." |
| The vote comes amid moves elsewhere in Europe to recognise Palestinian statehood officially, more than 100 countries having done so. | The vote comes amid moves elsewhere in Europe to recognise Palestinian statehood officially, more than 100 countries having done so. |
| Israel says moves to recognise Palestine are premature and undermine efforts to reach a peace settlement between the two sides. | Israel says moves to recognise Palestine are premature and undermine efforts to reach a peace settlement between the two sides. |
| Palestinian officials say they have been forced to pursue measures including seeking greater recognition internationally because a succession of peace talks has failed. | Palestinian officials say they have been forced to pursue measures including seeking greater recognition internationally because a succession of peace talks has failed. |
| Labour has twice called on the government - in 2011 and 2012 - to back Palestine's request for official state recognition at the UN. | Labour has twice called on the government - in 2011 and 2012 - to back Palestine's request for official state recognition at the UN. |