British lawyers warn that recognising Palestinian state would break international awpublished at 07:48 British Summer Time
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
Some of Britain’s most distinguished lawyers have warned the UK government that recognising a Palestinian state would breach international law.
In a letter to Lord Hermer, the attorney general, a group of 40 members of the House of Lords, many of them lawyers, write that proceeding with recognition would be “contrary to international law” because important criteria have not been met.
The BBC has not been able to obtain a full list of signatories, but according to The Times they include the prominent barrister Lord Pannick KC, the former Supreme Court judge Lord Collins of Mapesbury, the former justice minister Lord Faulks KC, and Lord Shamash, the Labour Party’s solicitor since 1990.
Part of the letter says: “Palestine does not meet the international law criteria for recognition of a state, namely, defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
“This is set out in the Montevideo Convention, has become part of customary law, and it would be unwise to depart from it at a time when international law is seen as fragile or, indeed, at any time.”