British parliament considers bill demanding a Palestinian state
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP), Layla Moran, has presented a Private Members Bill in the British parliament “to make provision in connection with the recognition of the State of Palestine.” The second reading will take place on Friday.
The “Recognition of the State of Palestine” Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Commons on Oct. 21 last year, lays out proposed legislation:
“The Secretary of State must, within one month of the passing of this Act, take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the Government of the United Kingdom formally recognises Palestine as a sovereign and independent state on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”
On Dec. 16, Dr Roz Savage, Liberal Democrat MP for the South Cotswolds addressed the House of Commons, saying,
“Given that the Prime Minister and his Foreign Secretary have both committed in principle to Palestinian statehood, and given that the majority of the international community has already recognised the statehood of Palestine, we might validly ask what the Government’s criteria are for the time that is “most conducive” to peace, and why we are lagging behind the rest of the world and dragging our feet on this issue.”
Savage said, “The Prime Minister has also expressed support for Palestinian statehood as a contribution to the peace process, describing it as an “undeniable right” of Palestinians."
The government has not committed to a timeline for recognition Palestine as a state.
"Currently, the state of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign country by 146 other countries, representing a little more than 75% of UN member states. On 3 December—just earlier this month—the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the creation of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with 157 votes in favour, including that of the United Kingdom,” Savage continued.
“A YouGov poll in early October found that 70% of respondents agreed that Palestinians have a right to a state of their own. I was proud to stand on a manifesto that committed to the immediate recognition of Palestine on 1967 lines, something that the Liberal Democrats have long called for. In fact, in each of the past three Parliaments, my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran) has tabled a Bill to recognise the state of Palestine,” she added.
In order for a bill in the UK to become legislation, it must pass through multiple stages: first and second readings in the House of Commons, the Committee stage, Report stage and third reading before going through the same steps in the House of Lords and then being approved by the monarch.
However, the bill has been slated as “unlikely to be debated” noting that it would “require unanimous consent to progress”.
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
