from Religion Media Centre
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has repeated that it is “deeply concerned” over UK plans to recognise a Palestinian state. It has released a statement following an address by David Lammy to the Commons on Monday, where he reminded MPs of the UK’s intention to recognise the State of Palestine later this month, “unless the Israeli Government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace”.
In his speech, he described the “unimaginably bleak” situation in Gaza, saying: “I am outraged by the Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid”.
The Board said recognising a Palestinian State risked “rewarding Hamas’s violence and intransigence rather than maximising pressure for the hostages’ release” and overlooked wider drivers of the conflict including the need for Palestinian Authority reform and the role of Iran and its proxies. The statement repeated the overwhelming community desire to see the hostages freed and for lasting peace and security in the region. It expressed “deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza” and the need for unrestricted aid to civilians.
Jewish News reports that David Lammy met families of hostages held captive in Gaza and countered criticism of the UK govenrment. It quotes him saying: “Our intention to recognise a State of Palestine is not about rewarding Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation. It’s about protecting the two-state solution’s viability at a critical moment. This is essential to Israel’s long-term security and regional position.”