UK’s Recognition of Palestine Statehood Sparks Tensions as Israeli Ministers Push for West Bank Annexation
The UK’s decision to recognise a Palestinian statehood has triggered a sharp backlash from Israel, with senior Israeli ministers calling for the immediate annexation of the occupied West Bank. Far-right figures like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich described recognising the Palestinian statehood as rewarding terrorism, with Smotrich declaring that “the only response to this anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the historic homeland of the Jewish people.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UK’s recognition as “an absurd prize for terrorism,” linking it directly to Hamas’ October 7th attack.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned Israel against retaliatory annexation, stressing that the UK’s recognition of statehood is aimed at “protecting peace and justice and crucially security for the Middle East.” She said she had clearly communicated to her Israeli counterpart that annexing the West Bank would undermine efforts toward peace. "Just as we recognise Israel... so we must also recognise the rights for the Palestinians to a state of their own as well," she added, insisting the recognition was about reviving a viable two-state solution.
The symbolic move, made jointly with Canada, Australia, Portugal, and Malta, comes amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and rising international frustration over Israel’s continued settlement expansion. At the UN General Assembly, more nations are expected to follow suit, while France and Saudi Arabia are co-chairing talks to reinvigorate peace negotiations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK’s decision as a step toward “peace and good neighbourliness.”
Domestically, Netanyahu faces growing dissent. Tens of thousands protested over the weekend, demanding a hostage deal and blaming the government’s hardline stance for Israel’s deepening global isolation. Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, said the recognition was a “direct result of Netanyahu’s political recklessness” and called for a broader regional deal involving a demilitarised Palestinian state. Analysts say Netanyahu’s next steps may depend on his upcoming trip to Washington, but with his coalition under pressure, annexation talk may escalate further.
