I thought it might be useful to set out some of the issues about Palestinian recognition which the British government has seemed utterly determined to ignore in the pursuit of a vibes-based policy.
A thread:
— Daniel Sugarman (@Daniel_Sugarman) September 22, 2025
Full thread:
1) As per a Memorandum signed with the PA, the UK recognises this state on 1949 armistice lines.
The Western Wall, Temple Mount, Jerusalem Old City, Cave of the Patriarchs, Rachel's Tomb – *all* Judaism's holiest sites- are now considered by the UK under Palestinian sovereignty.
2) The UK appears to be recognising the Palestinian Authority – a corrupt gerontocracy – as the official government.
Mahmoud Abbas was elected President in 2006 for a 4 year term. 19 years on and with no further elections, he's still the President.
3) Why? Well, because the alternative is far worse – Hamas itself. One of the key reasons the PA hasn't held elections since 2006 is because *everyone knows* that if they did Hamas would win.
I can't even call it an open secret because it's not a secret at all.
4) Of course, once Hamas won it would do the exact same thing as the PA did – never hold another election. We know that because they won in Gaza 20 years ago, soon after massacred anyone affiliated with the PA, and then ruled as a religious dictatorship.
5) This isn't Northern Ireland, I beg you to understand that. The only 'peace' Hamas is interested in is a pause that will allow them to regroup & rearm.
What you saw on 7 October 2023 is their plan for every man, woman and child in Israel.
6) The only way to ensure a two-state solution which works was to a) do everything to destroy Hamas and b) create a clear plan of recognition by *all* Arab countries, explicitly tied to Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state.
This was not done.
7) So, the UK, Australia and Canada, among others, have recognised a Palestinian state based on the ultimate political lodestar of soft-left governments – the vague sense that it's 'the right thing to do'.
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