LONDON, September 20, 2011 (WAFA) - The British Labor Party Tuesday called on its government to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations this week as part of continuing steps to achieve a comprehensive two state solution.

Richard Burden, Labor MP for Birmingham Northfield and Chair of the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, welcomed the announcement.

“Douglas Alexander’s letter to William Hague is both principled and realistic,” said Burden.

“As Douglas makes clear, recognition of a Palestinian state and negotiations are not contradictory. We need both,” he said.

“That’s why, at the UN this week, Britain should put its money where its mouth is and support the recognition of a Palestinian state. We should also make every effort to help bring the parties together to kick start meaningful negotiations to achieve a lasting settlement which will enable the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security in the years to come.”

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander, has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague setting out Labor's position ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The case made by the Palestinians for recognition as a state is strong. This week, at the United Nations, the British government should be willing to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of continuing steps to achieve a comprehensive two state solution,” said Alexander.

“But there also remains a heavy onus upon the British government and other members of the international community this week to work to ensure that any change in the level of Palestinian recognition is then followed by meaningful negotiations between the parties,” he said.

M.S.