On Monday 13th October, the House of Commons will be debating a motion which calls for the UK Parliament to recognise the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. This will give rightful legitimacy to the State of Palestine and its right to self-determination.
To finally have a workable two-State solution, then this has to involve two recognised and legitimate States within the negotiation process. The UK recognised Israel in 1950, and did not ask Palestinian permission to do so. The UK Government has the power to recognise Palestine now, upholding basic rights and freedoms for all people in the region.
Statehood cannot be conditional, it must not be part of the peace process but an intrinsic right for the Palestinian people with Israel having no say over another people's right to self-determination.
Palestine has acquired the attributes of a State, it has the functioning institutions worthy of a State as recognised by the IMF and the World Bank, and is ready for statehood. Its borders are still subject to negotiation, as indeed are Israel's borders but recognising Israel in the 1950's was not subject to negotiation and neither should recognition of Palestine.
The time to recognise Palestine is now.
The right of a people to choose its own destiny is an intrinsic, irrefutable human right. Recognition of Palestine as a State is an indispensable stage in a peaceful two-State solution.
If they me you feel passionately about this issue then please contact your local MP to make sure they attend the debate and speak up for Palestinian recognition. You can do this easily by clicking on this link http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/Palestine.
(The text above has been adapted from a letter by David Ward, Member of Parliament for Bradford East. I have long been of the view that Palestinians have legitimate long-standing grievances.)
Update: MPs voted to chose to recognise the state of Palestine by 274 votes for recognition to only 12 votes against recognition. 13/10/2014
