By Komal Adris
On October 13th 2014, 195 Labour MPs voted to support the recognition of a State of Palestine. Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said this was “right and fair and in line with the values of the Labour party”; Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander added that “Palestinian statehood is not a gift to be given, but a right to be recognised”.
The Labour Party and Ed Miliband attracted criticism for this position, from personal attacks on his religious credentials, to challenges of his commitment to a two-state solution. But just how radical is the Labour Party position? The UK vote was seen as an historic shift and was followed by a number of European countries, including Spain, France and Italy as well as a European Parliament vote in December to recognise Palestinian statehood. In Britain, polls show that over 74% support Palestinian statehood.
The sands are shifting in Europe, but where does the labour position stand globally? In 2012, 135 countries voted in favour of Palestinian statehood, at the UN, so clearly not so out of touch - unlike the Tory-led Government that abstained. Douglas Alexander said this was an “historic misjudgement which will be interpreted as a sign not of influence but of irrelevance”.
Pro-Israeli campaigners will argue that Ed Miliband’s position undermines prospects of a return to negotiations; others would argue what negotiations?
Twenty one years since Oslo and both sides are further from peace and security than ever before; an entire generation of young Palestinians will have grown up witnessing significant expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the construction of an illegal separation barrier, increased restrictions on Palestinian movement, economic decline, and a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza . The collapse of the Kerry-led peace process, followed by the devastation of Gaza exposed the inadequacy of efforts to achieve peace.
Focusing exclusively on negotiations, whilst failing to hold Israel accountable for their human rights violations and annexation of Palestinian land, is not enough. The UK must work more closely with European partners and the wider international community to play a more decisive role as honest brokers for peace. Continuing to trade with illegal settlements whilst recognising settlements as a major obstacle to peace, makes no sense. Accepting the principle of Palestinian right to statehood, but allowing Israel to hold a veto over the Palestinian right to self determination serves only to undermine our credibility. “ It’s time for a radical new approach to the negotiations, based on a peace process that is rooted in international law and aimed at ending the occupation, rather than prolonging it” says Labour candidate Stephen Kinnock.
Following the UK Parliament vote, LFPME Chair Grahame Morris said that ‘the Government’s decision to not support Palestinian aspirations for statehood placed Britain not only at odds with the international consensus, but on the wrong side of history’. LPFME will press a Labour Government to honour pledges made in opposition, starting by officially recognising the State of Palestine.
For more information contact: info@lfpme.org