JJP writes to the Foreign Office about recognising the State of Palestine

On 11 September 2025, JJP wrote to Stephen Hickey, Director Middle East & North Africa at the Foreign Office, seek a meeting to discuss the issue of western countries recognising the state of Palestine. The inadequacy of the United Kingdom’s conditional recognition was the crux of our letter.

Our letter is below

Stephen Hickey 11 September 2025

Director Middle East & North Africa

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Dear Mr. Hickey,

We are writing to seek a meeting to discuss the issue of western countries recognising the state of Palestine. There are several strands to the issue, and one involving the UK specifically.

First is the fact that 147 countries have already recognised the State of Palestine, but only five are “western” countries – Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia. Those 147 recognitions have clearly had no effect on Israel’s occupation policies.

Second, further recognitions now could have an effect, providing all or most important western states recognise and providing they make it clear that diplomatic isolation and economic consequences will follow if Israel continues on its present course of occupation and settlement. So far, France, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Portugal and Malta have committed themselves to recognise in the September session of the UN General Assembly.

The weight of numbers is important, because that can start to convince the Israeli public that Israel will face isolation if it continues to maintain the occupation and proceeds with its plans to annex more than half of the West Bank and ethnically cleanse Gaza. That can have an effect on Israeli elections, which in recent years have resulted in coalition governments with small majorities. The present government came to power with only a majority of four and has even lost that.

Third, the UK could play a pivotal role by adding its name to the list of 11 western countries that have either already recognised or have committed to do so at the UN later this month. Others would follow because of the UK’s position in the international community.

Unfortunately, the government’s statement on recognition is illogical and causes uncertainty about its intentions. Its very multi-factor conditionality leaves considerable room for Israel to play us by saying just enough to allow the Prime Minister to decide not to recognise, only for him to find afterwards that the words were hollow. It could be a repeat of how Israel played the European Union High Representative in July.

The former Foreign Secretary’s statement in the House on 7 September, “to move to ‘full recognition’ of a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly – unless there is a breakthrough on a ceasefire.”, is also cause for concern. “Full” and “breakthrough” provide ample opportunity for a fudge. To use its undoubted influence constructively, HMG should make a clear statement now that it will recognise Palestine at the UN this month, along with France, Canada, Australia and the others.

Fourth, a phalanx of western countries recognising Palestine could give Donald Trump cause to reconsider his support for Israeli expansionism. Amid the welter of contradictory pronouncements and musings to which he is prey, one of the few constants is his self-evident need to be seen as a winner, as someone who stands with other winners. If a phalanx of western countries develops, he might well see them as the winners, not Israel, and that might stop him from allowing Israel to destroy the Palestinians.

The Israeli strike on the Hamas negotiating team in Doha yesterday took place when this letter was about to be sent. It echos the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Chief of the Hamas Political Bureau, in July. Haniyeh was a key interlocutor with international mediators. His assassination made it clear that this Israel government has no interest in a ceasefire that will end the war on Gaza, despite the Israeli military leadership’s advice that completely destroying Hamas is impossible. Yesterday’s strike makes it clear beyond doubt. There is now no reason for HMG to delay announcing that it will recognise Palestine.

We hope to hear from you shortly to arrange a meeting.

Arthur Goodman

Parliamentary and Diplomatic Officer

c.c.

Jonathan Powell

National Security Adviser