Starmer set to delay recognising a Palestinian state if PM

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on the campaign trail on Thursday, speaking to party supporters in Bollington, Cheshire - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Sir Keir Starmer is set to delay recognising a Palestinian state if Labour is elected to government on July 4 for fear of damaging the special relationship with the US, it has been reported.

The Labour leader is said to be pushing back plans to officially recognise Palestine because he fears doing so would open up a rift with Joe Biden.

It comes despite his party committing in its manifesto to recognise a Palestinian state before peace talks between Israel and Hamas are finished.

The Times reported that Sir Keir has changed his approach after becoming concerned it could damage early efforts to forge relations with Mr Biden.

A source close to the Labour leader told the newspaper that recognition of Palestine would “have the most impact” if done “in coordination with allies”.

Whilst some 145 countries around the world now recognise a Palestinian state, crucial Western allies including the US, France and Germany do not.

In April the US, which is a staunch ally of Israel, vetoed a resolution submitted by Algeria to grant full United Nations membership to Palestine.

Sir Keir has come under pressure from the left of Labour to take a stronger stance on Gaza after the party suffered a backlash from Muslim voters.

But he is reported to feel that he can now ignore those pro-Palestinian voices because Labour is set to win such a commanding majority at the election.

Recognising a Palestinian state before peace talks between Israel and Hamas have been concluded would put the UK out of lockstep with the US.

The White House has said that such recognition can only come as part of a long-term peace settlement, which would end the fighting and enact a two-state solution.

Early recognition would also risk angering the Israeli government, a key Middle East ally.

Speaking at a campaign event earlier this month, Sir Keir suggested that recognition of a Palestinian state would not happen immediately under Labour.

“It has got to be at the right time in the process, because we need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel,” he said.

“We don’t have either of those at the moment, and therefore it has got to be at the point of the process where we could see both of those outcomes.”

Labour’s manifesto commits to recognising a Palestinian state “as a contribution to a renewed peace process” and says Israel should not have a veto.

It comes after the party faced a significant backlash from Muslim voters in May’s local elections, a trend which party bosses fear could be repeated on July 4.

Many of its core Muslim supporters have been angered by Sir Keir’s stance on Gaza, including his initial refusal to back their calls for a ceasefire.

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