Jeremy Corbyn: Labour would recognise Palestine ‘as soon as we take office’
Leader addresses party's 'Friends of Palestine' group at its annual conference, where he called for a "sustainable, just peace" with Israel
A Labour government would recognise an independent state of Palestine “as soon as we take office”, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
The opposition leader threw his support behind a two-state solution to Middle East peace, saying he wanted a “secure and viable” Palestine alongside Israel.
Addressing the Labour Friends of Palestine conference fringe event he attacked Donald Trump for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and cutting funding for the UN Refugee Agency.
He also called for a “sustainable, just peace” with Israel after “51 years of occupation”.
“But peace cannot be achieved with the existence of settlements, human rights abuses, and a disregard for international law by the current Israeli government, like last Sunday’s demolition of the Palestinian village of Khan Al Amar,” he continued.
“The security of one country can never be achieved at the expense of another and Britain has historic responsibility towards Palestinian people.
“We will continue to stand up for Palestinians, we will recognise an independent state of Palestine as soon as we take office.”
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry echoed the party leader saying an independent Palestine was needed “while there is still some Palestine left to recognise”.
She also highlighted the toll the conflict was taking on children both in Israel and Palestine.
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