British MPs vote on whether to recognise Palestine

On Monday 13 October, MPs will be given the opportunity to debate and vote on recognising the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.

The motion, proposed by left Labour MP Grahame Morris, is an attempt to put some teeth onto the stated aim of this and previous governments of a two-state settlement.

In 2012, when the UN General Assembly voted on whether to recognise the Palestinian state, the UK was one of the 41 nations which abstained. Nine voted against, 138 in favour – but the nine included Israel and the US, the two states with an ability to actually give justice to the Palestinians.

As Morris put it:

“I believe the government’s abstention on the vote for Palestinian statehood in the UN general assembly in 2012 was an utterly shameful act that placed Britain on the wrong side of history.

“In the words of Douglas Alexander, “Palestinian statehood is not a gift to be given but a right to be recognised.”

“Yet for too long the international community has cruelly refused the Palestinian people this right and by doing so has hindered the realisation of peace and security in the region.

“The two-state solution has been Britain’s stated policy aim for decades, but in politics talk often comes cheap.

“So far the government’s support for a two-state solution has been in rhetoric only.

“...On October 13 MPs will have the opportunity to back up their words with action.”

Monday's vote will be an opportunity for MPs to add to the pressure for Palestinians to have a state, with the same rights as Israel After the recent war in Gaza, with protests across UK and around the world, it has added significance.

Although Ed Miliband previously urged Cameron to support the Palestinian bid at the UN it is not clear if the Labour Party will officially support the motion.

Only a week ago Sweden's government became the first in Europe to formally recognise Palestine.

"The conflict between Israel can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law," Swedish PM Stefan Lofven and "A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognise the state of Palestine."

A vote in the UK Parliament, like the previous vote at the UN, will not change much immediately, but can play a role in putting pressure on the government, the EU and Israel itself. It could be important in adding to international pressure on Israel to resume negotiations towards a genuine two-state settlement.

The victory in Sweden and a strong vote in the UK and potentially other countries can also give confidence to those activists in Palestine and Israel working towards a just solution.

While much of the left in UK and a number of UK trade unions have campaigned for solidarity with Palestine, it has often concentrated on a simplistic condemnation of Israel as such, and calls for a varying degrees of boycotts of Israel, or stores such as Marks and Spencers.

In contrast this move raises the clear demand for an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. It suggests the need for a real and generous settlement from both Israel and internationally towards the Palestinians.

This initiative raised by a Labour MP should be taken into the labour movement to strengthen links and exchanges between activists in the UK and in Israel and Palestine.

For now all activists who want to support the Palestinians should pressure our MPs. Unions should pressure affiliated MPs, and where possible protests should be called to demand a vote to recognise Palestine alongside Israel.