‘A MOMENTOUS vote that is a stepping stone towards rectifying the historic injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people,’ Palestinian Ambassador Manuel Hassassian said yesterday in response to Monday night’s overwhelming YES vote in parliament for recognising the state of Palestine.
The vote was of 274 in favour to 12 against, a majority of 262.
Hassassian continued: ‘MPs have reflected the will of the British public by recognising the State of Palestine and Palestinians’ right to freedom, justice and self-determination.’
He added: ‘Now is the time for the UK government to listen to its democratically elected parliament and to take decisive political action by recognising the State of Palestine and upholding its historical, moral and legal responsibility towards Palestine.’
Moving the motion in the House of Commons, Labour MP for Easington, Grahame Morris said: ‘I beg to move, ‘That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.’
Jack Straw, Labour MP for Blackburn moved an amendment. He said: ‘I beg to move amendment (b), at the end of the Question to add, ‘as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution.’
Caroline Lucas, Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion said: ‘Sweden has already moved to recognise Palestine. If we do not grasp this moment, we will lose a real opportunity to push this matter forward and to move closer to peace.’
Grahame Morris responded: ‘I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady. As the originator of the Balfour declaration and holder of the mandate for Palestine, Britain has a unique historical connection and, arguably, a moral responsibility to the people of both Israel and Palestine.
‘In 1920, we undertook a sacred trust – a commitment to guide Palestinians to statehood and independence. That was nearly a century ago, and the Palestinian people are still to have their national rights recognised.
‘This sacred trust has been neglected for far too long. As the hon. Lady has just said, we have an historic opportunity to atone for that neglect, and take this small but symbolically important step.’
He added: ‘Recognition is not an Israeli bargaining chip; it is a Palestinian right. It is one that has to form the basis of any serious negotiations. Indeed, the lack of equity between Israel and the Palestinians is a structural failure that has undermined the possibility of a political settlement for decades.’
During the debate Labour MP for Middlesbrough, Andy McDonald said: ‘It has been said on innumerable occasions that a Palestinian state is not a gift but a right, and I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment.
‘When such a right exists, it is unacceptable that that right should be denied or that conditions should apply. I note that some people say that the state of Palestine should be recognised only on the conclusion of successful peace negotiations between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority.
‘If that view were to hold sway, the injustice would simply continue for ever more. It would be to put the cart before the horse and, worse still, exacerbate the situation. Can we really say with any sincerity that Binyamin Netanyahu will put his name to preconditions leading to the creation of the Palestinian state that would ever be acceptable to the Palestinian people?’
