British Labour supports Palestinian UN bid

The British Labour party has announced its support for the Palestinian UN bid. The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, will request formal recognition for Palestine from the UN Security Council later this week. The bid has evoked outrage from the US and Israel. The US has pledged to use its veto power, which will stop the bid in its tracks. Douglas Alexander, the Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary, has written to the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague. “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,” he said. “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.” Britain is yet to say how it intends to vote, but is under considerable pressure from the US to vote against the plan.