British FM: Labour committed to recognizing Palestinian state but as part of peace process

Pressed in the House of Commons on whether UK’s Labour government will set out a timeline for recognizing a Palestinian state, Foreign Secretary David Lammy affirms that Palestinian statehood is a goal but that it must come about as part of a comprehensive peace process.

“We want a credible and irreversible pathway toward a two-state solution — a safe and secure Israel along a viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” says Lammy, who was in Israel earlier this month. “We are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to the peace process at a time that’s most conducive to that process.”

After being questioned again by Labour MP Paula Barker on why he favors waiting to recognize a Palestinian state, Lammy says, “We want it to be part of a process. It does not deliver a two-state solution in and of itself. But it is absolutely right that the Palestinians are enabled to have a sovereign state; that is, it is a just cause and we will work with other partners to bring that about.”