Palestine independence vote

Yesterday (October 13) in an historic move towards peace and security for the people of Palestine, MPs voted in favour of recognising it as a state in its own right.

The vote came about after Sweden became the first major European country earlier this month, to officially recognise Palestine as a state.

“Unite has long supported the call for Palestinian statehood,” said Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary. “Injustice and denial of rights should be opposed wherever they are found in the world and the Palestinian people have waited far too long for this.”
Along with Sweden the UK joins more than 100 other countries that have already recognised Palestinian statehood.
Labour has twice called on the government – in 2011 and 2012 – to back Palestine’s request for official state recognition at the United Nations.

 
In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the status of the Palestinians to that of a ‘non-member observer state’.
This summer saw the worst violence in years as Israeli troops were sent into Gaza in response to heavy rocket fire. A cease fire was declared after 2,100 Gazans including hundreds of children, and 73 Israelis had been killed.

 
Labour MPs were whipped to support the vote in advance. A source said, “We would ask MPs to vote for party policy, but they are not compelled to attend.”
The full motion stated, “That this House believes that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution.”
The motion was brought forward by Labour backbencher Grahame Morris who made the point, “Not only is statehood the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, but recognising Palestine will breathe new life into a peace process that is at an impasse.”

 
Len McCluskey wrote to Douglas Alexander, shadow foreign secretary, in advance of the vote to urge Labour to support Palestine statehood. He said, “We are respectfully urging you to use your position of leadership to encourage and support Labour MPs to seize this historic opportunity and vote in favour of the motion.”
The result, 274 to 12, is hugely symbolic – but the vote is non-binding, so doesn’t change government policy.
“We know this is a non-binding vote and we have heard the government’s response but as parliament has made its view so clear I hope David Cameron will read what was said in the debate, look at the current situation and think seriously about implementing this policy,” said Grahame Morris MP.

“This is really a historic vote. The UK Parliament is announcing it is taking its historic obligations seriously.”