Starmer: There must be a ‘safe and secure Israel’ for Labor to recognize Palestine

Keir Starmer has moved to clarify Labour’s position on recognizing a Palestinian state after reports claimed his party’s manifesto would call for it to happen before any peace talks with Israel are concluded.

Speaking to the Jewish News while visiting the Brent Cross Town housing estate in north London, the Labor leader ruled out this happening while Hamas retained any control in Gaza, saying: “There must be a safe and secure Israel.” .

Asked to clarify Labour’s position, following a report in The Guardian which suggested Starmer was ready to make significant concessions to pro-Palestinian voices on the left, Starmer said: “It is very important that I set out what our full policy is, which is to recognize Palestine as part of the process for a two-state solution. But it’s part of a process.

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“That means it has to be at the right time in the process, because we need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

“We don’t have either of those right now, and so it has to be at the point in the process where we can see both outcomes.”

But he added: “It is important for me to say that the recognition of Palestine, a Palestinian state, is not in the gift of Israel or anyone else. It is a right.

“But it has to be in the process for both of those things to happen. “

Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer chat with the new owner of the house

Asked again if this process could happen while Hamas remained in some control of Gaza, Starmer again stressed: “There must be a safe and secure Israel.”

He also stressed that the manifesto, published next week, would reflect Labour’s “long-standing” position in support of a two-state solution.

Starmer toured the impressive housing estate with deputy leader Angela Rayner and Finchley and Golders Green Labour’s parliamentary candidate Sarah Sackman.

Sackman later said: “This morning I welcomed Keir to the Brent Cross development.

“I am pleased that he has made it clear that Labor will not recognize a Palestinian state as long as Hamas remains in control of Gaza and that Israel must be secure before such recognition can take place.

“A future Labor government would consider recognition only as part of a renewed international peace process.”

Keir Starmer with Sarah Sackman at Brent Cross Town

Asked by reporters about his reaction to Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the Normandy D-Day commemoration early, he said the prime minister “will have to answer for his own actions”.

“For me, I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” said Starmer, who added that meeting the veterans was an emotional experience for him.

Earlier, Rayner, wearing patriotic union jack socks, and Starmer spoke to a new home owner at the development, who was praised by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who also attended Friday’s campaign event.