LONDON
Britain has said that it does not intend to change its policy towards Palestine and recognize statehood, despite lawmaker’s recognition Monday.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement to the Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that “Britain is committed to the two state solution: a sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State - living in peace and security, side by side with Israel.”
But it added that it continued to believe that negotiations toward a two-state solution were the best route to meeting Palestinian aspirations in reality and on the ground.
The two-state solution refers to a solution to conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that calls for "two states for two peoples,” and envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. The boundaries between the two states, however, are still subject to dispute and negotiation.
Palestinian and Arab leaders have insisted on a future state existing in the "1967 borders" - based on borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war - but that has not been accepted by Israel.
The office of Israel's prime minister - Benjamin Netanyahu - has rejected what it terms "a withdrawal to the 1967 borders," calling it "indefensible" and noting it would leave major Israeli population centers in Palestinian territory.
Late Monday British lawmakers voted to recognize Palestine as a state in a historical and symbolic move that "calls on the government to recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel."
A total of 274 members of parliament voted for the non-binding motion, with only 12 voting against. The vote saw the British prime minister along with other ministers abstain.
The foreign office told AA, “We reserve the right to bilaterally recognize a Palestinian State at a moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace.”
In 2012 the United Nations voted to give Palestine its non-Member Observer State status. The UN assembly voted 138 to nine in favor of the move with 41 nations, including the UK, abstaining.
www.aa.com.tr/en
