Israel bristles as UK leads Western recognition of Palestine
The United Kingdom has led a historic shift in Western policy by formally recognizing the State of Palestine, joined rapidly by Canada, Australia, and Portugal just ahead of the September 2025 United Nations General Assembly, causing significant diplomatic turbulence and strong reactions from Israel.
On September 21, 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially announced the recognition of Palestine as a state, marking a dramatic departure from longstanding British policy that had previously tied recognition to the progress of peace talks and maximum diplomatic leverage. Canada, Australia, and Portugal publicly coordinated their announcements with the UK, citing a need to keep alive hopes for a two-state solution despite deteriorating conditions in Gaza and mounting civilian casualties. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra, and Malta have also indicated their intention to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN meeting.
Israel has reacted with marked anger and alarm, interpreting the wave of recognitions as a “reward for terror” and a “prize” for Hamas, the group whose attacks in October 2023 triggered the ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically rejected these recognitions, calling them dangerous and counterproductive for peace, while other Israeli ministers have openly condemned the UK, Canada, and Australia for “abandoning Israel at a critical time”. Hostage families in Israel pleaded with the UK to postpone its announcement, fearing it would further complicate efforts to secure the release of those still held in Gaza. The general Israeli public and political opposition have also united in criticism against this move, arguing that it undermines the prospects for meaningful negotiations.
The recognition by the UK and its allies aligns them with over 140 countries that already recognize Palestinian statehood, thus symbolically increasing pressure on Israel and the United States. While Palestinian leadership welcomed the move as a long-overdue correction of historic injustice, some Western officials and analysts have warned that the gesture may remain largely symbolic, with little effect on the ground due to ongoing hostilities and absent conditions for genuine statehood. The US government has termed these recognitions “performative,” reaffirming its continued prioritization of Israel’s security and distancing itself diplomatically from its closest allies on this issue.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed gratitude to the UK and other countries for their pledges, emphasizing that the decision could help pave the way for peace and coexistence as part of a two-state solution. Palestinian representatives in the UK stated that recognition is not a “gift or favor” but rather an inherent right, and that many Palestinians see this as a correction of long-standing denial of their existence.
This development marks a turning point in Western engagement with the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, deepening diplomatic divides and introducing new challenges for peace negotiations in an increasingly volatile region.
