Palestinian statehood
A motion to recognise Palestine as a state was backed by 274 votes to 12 in the House of Commons
A motion to recognise Palestine as a state was backed by 274 votes to 12 in the House of Commons on Monday 13 October.
The motion, put forward by Labour MP Grahame Morris, urged the government to ‘recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution’.
The result was welcomed by Friends House in a press release issued on Tuesday 14 October.
The press release said: ‘Many Quakers wrote to their MPs ahead of the Commons’ debate urging recognition of the state as a vital step towards justice and peace for Palestine and Israel.’
The Britain Yearly Meeting statement on Gaza made in August was also highlighted. It called for the government to recognise Palestine as a nation state, a comprehensive arms embargo on all sides in the conflict and for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and occupation of Palestine.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers abstained from the vote, as is the convention on motions proposed by backbench MPs. The vote, whilst not deciding government policy, was described by the BBC as ‘symbolic’ but that it ‘could have international implications’.
