Writing in the Church Times, Sir Vincent Fean, who served as British Consul-General in Jerusalem from 2010 to 2014, argues that the time has come for the UK to recognise the State of Palestine.
On 13 October, our MPs will debate and vote on a motion to recognise the State of Palestine. This is now the right course of action, to sustain those in Palestine who abhor violence, and strengthen the hand of those in Israel who seek peaceful, secure coexistence in two sovereign states.
The Holy Land is home to two peoples – Israeli and Palestinian. It is anything but a beacon of peace and harmony. The conflict there has cast a shadow over the Middle East region throughout my diplomatic career - some 38 years, the last 3 in Jerusalem. Jews, Christians and Muslims all care deeply about Jerusalem, and seek the freedom to worship there. What can Christians do to advance the cause of peace with justice in that sacred place? Pray for peace, mutual security, and justice for all. Give to good causes, like the rebuilding of Gaza and the non political charity Friends of the Holy Land, dedicated to enabling those Christian living stones to survive where they were born, where Christ walked. And ask our elected representatives to do what is right: recognise two states with equal rights and responsibilities.
Our spiritual leaders care deeply. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke eloquently – of security for Israel, justice for Palestinians, peace for all – during his visit last year. His Holiness Pope Francis prayed for peace with Presidents Abbas and Peres in June. Tragically, the third Gaza conflict in 10 years was to follow. The ceasefire has suspended the killing, but resolved nothing.
Our Government recognised the State of Israel (without borders or a capital) in 1950. Why recognise Palestine now, on the lines before the 1967 war and occupation, ie East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza? First, for our own sake: we regain our balance. We are party to the history of this conflict – originators of the Balfour Declaration and holders of the Mandate to rule Palestine (1920-48). Under the Mandate, we took on a “sacred trust of civilisation” to advance the welfare of the Palestinian people and guide them to independence. There is unfinished business here. Second, recognition makes a difference – not on the ground, but in the minds of men and women. It underlines our commitment to the equitable two state solution, at a time when violence, illegal settlement expansion and the continued closure of Gaza make that outcome ever harder to discern. It is the only one that will work, justly. Recognition makes it more likely, not less.
The two parties to this conflict are at an impasse. The voices of moderation on both sides need encouragement. Those Palestinians who eschew violence and practise security cooperation with Israel need something to show for their pains – to prove that their peaceful efforts, not indiscriminate Hamas violence, will lead to two states. Those in Israel who acknowledge that settlements, the Separation Barrier and demolitions of Palestinian homes are both morally and legally wrong need to be able to show that the world thinks the same. It matters to Israel’s international reputation to end the Occupation.
External action is needed to break the impasse. The United Kingdom has the freedom to act perfectly legitimately in ways which are closed, politically, to the United States. US involvement in resolving this conflict is necessary, but Secretary Kerry’s engagement is evidently not sufficient. The Arab States have reaffirmed that they will recognise and do business with Israel in the event of an agreement acceptable to the Palestinian moderates. Europe too needs to act, beyond funding the rebuilding of Gaza for the third time in a decade. Where we lead, other Europeans will follow. Recognition of Palestine is already under active discussion in France. The Nordic countries are not far behind – in the evangelical churches in Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, there is keen awareness of the urgent need to find a way for two peoples to live in peace and mutual security. In Ireland and Italy too, the debate has moved from conflict analysis to determining action for the common good of all people in the region. Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in safety. Both deserve statehood. The status quo is unjust and thus indefensible. A one-state outcome is also no solution, for it means further discrimination in an apartheid-style system, and yet more violence – but with no way out.
The U.S. Administration sometimes says that we cannot want a solution more than the two parties do. Not so. The absence of a solution harms us directly in the region, through instability, risk of violence, the financial cost to our Development Ministry of mitigating the negative impact of the Occupation on people in Gaza and the West Bank… Even more importantly, accusations of UK double standards increase the risks of radicalisation among our Muslim youth. Recognition levels the ground somewhat for the negotiations between the parties which must follow, and demonstrates respect for the International Law which we helped to create, and which needs political will to enforce.
If you agree, please tell your MP – before 13 October.