Israel has reacted with anger to Labour’s manifesto pledge to recognise a Palestinian state before the end of any peace negotiations, suggesting Sir Keir Starmer wants to “reward terrorists”.
A leak of the manifesto revealed by i showed Labour would go further than the current UK Government, by supporting statehood for Palestinians “as part of a peace process” rather than after it has concluded.
The Labour leader insisted on Friday that this would not happen while Hamas retained control in Gaza as Israel being “safe and secure” would be a precondition to the move.
But Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told i: “Countries embarking on this path should ask themselves this simple question: does their action support peace-makers or does it reward terrorists?
“Eight months to the day since the horrors of 7 October and the Palestinian Authority (PA) have yet to find the time to condemn Hamas.
“All of us here in Israel are left with no other conclusion that the PA thinks what Hamas did on that black day was a good idea.”
It come as senior Labour figures, union representatives, candidates and party members met in London on Friday, at the secretive Clause V meeting, to sign off the final draft of the manifesto.
Party sources described the meeting as “positive” and said the manifesto had been waived through by attendees, with a spokesperson saying: “Today’s meeting has endorsed Labour’s manifesto.”
But the Unite union was understood to have reservations and refused to back the manifesto after criticising Labour for weakening its package of workers’ rights.
Sources said the party stance on issues like employment protection and oil and gas meant the union could not endorse the final version, according to reports.
The union has been vocal on Labour’s New Deal for workers, but it’s failure to endorse the manifesto is unlikely to delay publication. It does however suggest that if he becomes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will face challenges from the Left of the Labour movement.
As i revealed on Thursday, the Labour manifesto would support Palestinian statehood as part of the Middle East peace process.
The party still backs international efforts to pursue a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
During a campaign visit in Brent Cross on Friday, Starmer did not deny that the manifesto pledge would involve recognition during peace negotiations.
He was asked by reporters to categorically rule out Labour recognising Palestine while Hamas retains some control in Gaza, and to explain at what stage in a peace process the party would recognise a state.
The Labour leader said: “Thank you for raising that because it’s very important that I set out for what our position is, which is to recognise Palestine as part of the process to a two-state solution, but part of the process.
“So that means it’s got to be at the right time in the process because we need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel, to your point.
“We don’t have either of those at the moment. And therefore it’s got to be at the point in the process where we can see both of those outcomes.
“It is important for me to say that recognising Palestine… is not the gift of Israel or anyone else. It is a right but it has to be in the process so that both things happen, a viable Palestinian state and a safe and secure Israel.
“Neither of those things are the position at the moment.”
Inclusion of the pledge in the manifesto is an apparent attempt to stave off Labour losing votes on the left, after Starmer was criticised for being too slow to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza – which triggered the resignations of Labour councillors.
There were signs that Starmer’s earlier stance had cost Labour some votes in the local and mayoral elections in May.
Following the announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway that they plan to recognise a state of Palestine, Labour said if elected into government it would begin discussions “in earnest” with “like-minded countries”.
Senior Labour figures, union representatives, candidates and party members met in London on Friday, at the secretive Clause V meeting, to sign off the final draft of the manifesto.
Party sources described the meeting as “positive” and said the manifesto had been waived through by attendees, with a spokesperson saying: “Today’s meeting has endorsed Labour’s manifesto.”
The Unite union, however, was understood to have reservations and refused to back the manifesto after criticising Labour for weakening its package of workers’ rights.
Sources said the party stance on issues like employment protection and oil and gas meant the union could not endorse the final version, according to the Press Association.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has been outspoken in her criticism of Starmer’s leadership and policies.
But the union continues to back the party, donating more than £380,000 in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest Electoral Commission figures.
Left-wing campaign group Momentum said it was “deeply disappointed” that the party has not promised to introduce free school meals or scrap the two-child benefit cap.
“Standing alongside child poverty campaigners and friends across the labour movement, we will continue to push for these policies, which represent the essence of real Labour values.”
