The UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, solemnly announced by Sir Keir Starmer in a video message on the eve of the UN General Assembly session, honours the commitment he made in July, when he warned of just such a step should Israel fail to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and commit to a two-state solution.
That Israel has not only failed to meet those conditions, but veered sharply in the opposite direction with the recent strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, left Sir Keir with little choice but to confirm what would amount to a major UK policy shift or risk charges of empty rhetoric.
