Offering follow-up commentary on the British Parliament’s just-passed “non-binding” vote in recognition of Palestinian statehood, British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould said on Tuesday that the United Kingdom would fully recognize a Palestinian state at a time that is “most helpful for the peace process.” Gould stressed that the end result of Palestinian independence could only be achieved through the Palestinians’ direct negotiations with Israel.
Gould said that the largely symbolic parliamentary vote late Monday night in recognition of a Palestinian state reflected a broader shift in British public opinion about Israel following the extended military conflict in Gaza this summer and Israeli government announcements of new settlement construction.
“We’ve long said that we will recognize this Palestinian state at the time that is most helpful for the peace process,” clarified the ambassador, according to the Times of Israel. His comment appeared to imply that the British government would not be officially implementing the nonbinding resolution anytime soon.
Gould stressed that the UK vote was an internal debate by non-ministerial members of parliament, and that neither any ministers nor Prime Minister David Cameron were in attendance. At the same time, though, he conceded that the ruling was “significant.”
“Although this vote won’t affect government policy, I think it is right to be concerned about what it signifies in terms of the direction of public opinion,” Gould noted. “I think last night’s vote was a sign of the tide in public opinion in the absence of progress towards peace.”
The ambassador strongly encouraged Israel to take part in the international reconstruction efforts in Gaza, to “refrain from steps to expand settlements, which have a very corrosive effect on international opinion,” and to actively seek the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.
Several British Catholic and Anglican bishops praised the UK vote, which passed by a 274-12 margin, stating that it was “long overdue.”
The Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Foreign Affairs, Christopher Cocksworth, on Monday urged parliament members to endorse the bill.
“At a time of great uncertainty in the Middle East and North Africa, we hold that it is the reasonable aspiration of all peoples to belong to a state and enjoy the merits of full and active citizenship on their own lands. We equally believe that the right of Palestinians for such statehood has been long overdue,” the Lead Bishop and a fellow church leader stated.
“Such a principled recognition by our Parliament and Government will facilitate rather than hamper the negotiations that would inevitably follow between Israelis and Palestinians to agree upon the details of this new and sovereign state created next to a secure Israel.”
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