British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has proposed recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, hoping to revive the two-state solution. However, many Palestinians see this move as too little, too late. The Israeli government has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank, a process that began over 60 years ago and is now home to over 700,000 Israelis.
Last year, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation was illegal. Yet, the government remains committed to building more settlements, including 22 new ones announced by Defence Minister Bezalel Smotrich in May. These expansions are driven by a “Zionist, security, and national response” aimed at preventing a Palestinian state and serving as a buffer against enemies.
Palestinians living in areas like Taybeh face violent settlers who have increased attacks on their communities since the 7 October attacks. The village’s residents fear for their lives, with Kamal Tayea installing security cameras to protect his family after settlers daubed graffiti on his car.
Despite this, the Palestinian delegation to the UK views Starmer’s plan as a positive step towards implementing and establishing the state of Palestine. Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian delegation, said it shows that “the rest of the international community is really serious about the two-state solution.”
However, not everyone shares this optimism. Ultra-nationalist MPs in Israel reject the proposal, claiming it rewards Hamas terrorism. The UK’s recognition plan has been met with skepticism by many Palestinians, who see it as too little to address decades of occupation and displacement.
For Kamal Tayea, a resident of Taybeh, Starmer’s promise does not ease his concerns. “I don’t think so. It’s a big step to have a superpower like Britain support us, but on the ground, it does not change much. Israel is not compliant with any international resolutions or laws.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6n0eeqp54o