LONDON, September 7, 2011 (WAFA) – Members of British Parliament (MPs) Wednesday will debate the possible United Nations membership of a Palestinian state, according to an MPs press release.
The release said that the debate, which has been secured by Parliament Member Richard Burden, takes place two weeks before Palestine is expected to ask the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.
Burden, who chairs the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, will use the debate to call on the government to recognize an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel and support its admission to the United Nations.
He said, “Israel is recognized as a full member of the United Nations, with internationally recognized borders delineated by the green line. That has not been seen as an impediment to a negotiated settlement to the conflict. In some cases, it has been seen as a prerequisite to it.
If recognition is so fundamental in respect of Israel, what is the problem with recognizing Palestine as a full member of the United Nations as requested by the Palestinian people, with borders delineated by that same green line?” Burden added.
“And at a time, following the Arab Spring, when the UK government is at the forefront of support for people across the Middle East calling for self-determination,” Burden wondered, “are we really saying Palestinian people should be different?”
He said that it is time to help level the playing field: an independent and recognized state of Israel alongside an independent and recognized state of Palestine with both people realizing their legitimate right to self-determination.
“Two states that can then enter into negotiations on an equal footing to agree on the details of a lasting and peaceful two-state solution, and to agree on the final borders between those two states based on justice and based on international law,” he said.
The British parliament yesterday returned from summer recess, where over 40 MPs put their names to a parliamentary motion supporting Palestinian membership of the United Nations, tabled by the Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, Rt. Hon. Ann Clwyd.
M.H./F.J.
