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Labour leader pushes Boris Johnson to advocate for Palestinian statehood during G7
Sir Keir Starmer pressed Boris Johnson on his support for a sovereign Palestinian state during Prime Minister's Questions today
June 9, 2021 13:36
Sir Keir Starmer pressed Boris Johnson on his support for a sovereign Palestinian state during Prime Minister's Questions today
June 9, 2021 13:36Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has asked the Prime Minister to advocate the recognition of a Palestinian state at the G7 summit in Cornwall this weekend.
During Prime Minister’s Questions today, Sir Keir used his final question to press Boris Johnson on supporting the establishment of sovereign Palestinian statehood, alongside a “safe and secure Israel”.
The Labour leader also asked the Prime Minister to spend time at the G7 demanding end to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Sir Keir said: “For too many people in Palestine, the promise of an end to the occupation and a recognised sovereign Palestinian state feels more distant than ever.
“Will the Prime Minister take the opportunity this weekend to press for renewed international agreement to finally recognise the State of Palestine, alongside a safe and secure Israel, to stop the expansion of illegal settlements and to get a meaningful peace process back up and running?”
Responding to the Labour leader’s question, Mr Johnson said the government’s position on the Middle East remains supporting a two-state solution.
The Prime Minister said: “It's been a long-standing objective of this government, and I think it’s common ground across this House, that the solution for the Middle East peace process is a two-state solution and we continue to press for that.
“I’ve made that position plain both in my conversations with the Palestinian authority and of course with Israel.”
Labour and the Conservatives are currently fighting a tight by-election race in the West Yorkshire seat of Batley and Spen.
The constituency is home to a large Muslim population who have been vocal supporters of Palestine.