‘Now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution’ – Lammypublished at 11:01 BST
As we just mentioned, a short while ago Starmer’s deputy defended the UK’s expected announcement to recognise a Palestinian state.
“Now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution,” David Lammy said while speaking to the Laura Kuenssberg programme.
He acknowledged that the announcement won’t necessarily change the situation on the ground significantly – “will this feed children? No it won’t, that’s down to humanitarian aid. Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire.”
But this is an attempt to “hold out for” a two-state solution, he added.
When Lammy was asked if Hamas was being given a propaganda victory, he replied that there is a distinction between a proscribed terrorist group and the Palestinian people.
“What do we say to the children of a future Palestinian state? Do we say we have to wait for the perfect conditions before we can recognise a Palestinian state?” he asks.
He adds that the UK government has always said it believes in a homeland for the Jewish people, but we also believe in the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian people.