Erkennen von Palästina -Angelegenheiten – auch wenn es viel zu spät kommt

Sir Keir Starmer’s recognition of the state of Palestine contrasts with his past silence about – or muted criticism of – Israel’s destruction of Gaza, which made the UK complicit in an ongoing genocide of terrible cruelty, as described in a [highly detailed report by a UN Commission of Inquiry](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/genocide-gaza-official-but-wont-stop-israels-atrocities-3922147?ico=in-line_link) this month. 

The importance of the UK action – made simultaneously with similar statements by Canada and Australia, and ahead of France’s expected recognition at the UN today – is not that it opens the door in the foreseeable future to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian crisis, but that it underwrites the right of the Palestinians to exist free from the threat of physical annihilation or enforced exodus.

Some critics of the UK Government may dismiss its action as too little too late and allege that, along with other European leaders, Starmer and his government are [cynically establishing a moral alibi](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/gaza-exposes-moral-rot-heart-british-state-3901025?ico=in-line_link) for themselves, while at the same time criminalising protest over Gaza by proscribing Palestine Action and arresting pro-Palestinian protesters.

Accepting that the Government’s motives may be impure and self-serving – appeasing core Labour voters infuriated by its pro-Israel line – this is still not sufficient reason to downplay the significance of UK recognition of a Palestinian state.

This is like recognizing Tibet though. Israel provides too much tech and it has nuclear weapons. Western Nations totally ripping the cord off won’t change much. Israel will just immerse itself in the orbit of China or Russia then.

This recognition is just a performative play to make their domestic bases feel heard.