British MP Layla Moran puts forward new Palestine statehood bill
Layla Moran, the first and only British MP of Palestinian descent, will on Wednesday present a bill to UK parliament seeking to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Moran, who belongs to the Liberal Democrat party, has presented the bill in every parliamentary session since she was elected in 2017.
It calls on the UK government to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state on the basis of pre-1967 borders, and to recognise the inalieable right of Palestinians to self-determination.
The bill also calls on the government to grant the Mission of Palestine in London status as a full diplomatic mission, and thus afford its staff members all applicable diplomatic privileges and immunities.
"As the world watches such devastating scenes unfolding in Gaza, what we need more than anything is hope," Moran told Middle East Eye.
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“The only way to end the ceaseless violence is through a two-state solution. And a two-state solution requires just that - two states. 140 other countries have already taken the step of recognition, and I firmly believe now is the time for the UK government to join them, making good on our historic obligation to the Palestinian people."
The bill is being co-sponsored by a number of MPs from different parties across the UK.
These include Labour's Alex Sobel, Andy McDonald and Andy Slaughter, Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, Liberal Democrat lawmakers Calum Miller, Alistair Carmichael and Tom Morrison, and Ellie Chowns from the Green Party.
"While recognition of Palestinian statehood is not a silver bullet, it would send a powerful signal that we stand by the Palestinian people, and that we will do everything we can to help safeguard both the state of Israel, and the state of Palestine," Moran said.
A similar bill calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state was put forward by independent MP Shockat Adam earlier this week.
It was co-sponsored by several independent MPs, as well as lawmakers from the Greens, Labour, Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.
In its election manifesto, Labour committed to recognising a Palestinian state “as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution”.
In June, reports suggested that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to delay recognising Palestine over concerns it could jeopardise Britain's relationship with the United States.
Last week, nearly 50 British parliamentarians from seven political parties backed a parliamentary motion calling for the government to take measures including "ending all military exports to Israel, banning the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, and revoking the 2030 Roadmap which deepens UK economic, trade and security ties with Israel".
Meanwhile, Starmer said last week he is "looking at" sanctioning Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as the National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over "abhorrent" comments they made about Palestinians.
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