Rishi Sunak ‘doesn’t agree’ with Israeli ambassador rejecting two-state solution

Published

2 years ago

December 14, 2023

admin

Rishi Sunak has publicly disagreed with an Israeli ambassador, who told Sky News the country rejected the idea of a two-state solution.

It is the long-standing position of the UK government that there should be an independent Palestinian state established alongside the existing one of Israel – giving both peoples their own territory.

But asked about the prospect after the war in the region ends, Tzipi Hotovely – who represents Israel in the UK – said “absolutely no”, claiming Palestinians “want to have a state from the river to the sea”.

Politics live: MP reprimanded over lobbying scandal

Asked about her comments this morning, Mr Sunak said: “We don’t agree with that.”

The prime minister added that “consistently far too many innocent people have lost their lives”, and that he had told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his country “must take every available precaution to protect innocent civilian lives”.

A two-state solution has long been the desired outcome, not just of the UK, but of the US and the United Nations.

It has previously been endorsed by Israel, but only if Palestinian military groups put down their arms – while Palestinians have said they would agree if they could police themselves.

But as the conflict rolls on following the terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October, two Israeli politicians have now rejected the end goal.

“Israel knows today, and the world should know now that the Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel,” Ms Hotovely told Sky News’ Mark Austin.

“They want to have a state from the river to the sea. They are saying it loud and clear. It’s now two months after the war started. The Palestinian Authority didn’t condemn this massacre (7 October). It’s such a big problem.”

Giving his reaction to the remarks, Mr Sunak said the UK government did not “agree”, adding: “Our long-standing position remains that a two-state solution is the right outcome.”

He went on to discuss the ongoing military action by Israel in Gaza, calling what was going on “incredibly concerning”.

The prime minister added: “I’ve said consistently far too many innocent people have lost their lives. No one wants this conflict to go on for a moment longer than is necessary.

“Of course, Israel has a right to defend itself from an appalling terrorist attack that it suffered. But as I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu just last week, Israel must take every available precaution to protect innocent civilian lives.”

Mr Sunak said the UK was “doing a lot” to get more aid into Gaza, and the government was “continuing to press for more access to get more support to the people who need it”.

He also said his government would continue to support calls for a “sustainable ceasefire” when hostages are released and more aid can get in, and when Hamas also stops firing rockets into Israel.

Politics

Roman Storm’s lawyers signal continuance if court allows hacker’s testimony

Published

52 mins ago

July 10, 2025

admin

Roman Storm’s lawyers signal continuance if court allows hacker’s testimony

The Tornado Cash co-founder is scheduled to go to trial on Monday, but his defense attorneys are still waiting on rulings for motions over witnesses in the case.

Politics

Migrants deal a win for Starmer – and could help with fight against Reform

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2025

admin

Migrants deal a win for Starmer - and could help with fight against Reform

The bromance between Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron is so apparent – embraces all around.

This is some deft diplomacy from Sir Keir, who has been love-bombing his French counterpart ever since he became prime minister – trying to get closer ties, be it on security, on trade, and now of course on small boats.

And he has got a win today – he’s got President Macron to agree a deterrent deal.

Politics latest: Macron stokes undiplomatic Brexit row

You remember the Conservatives were trying the Rwanda plan to deter people from coming by sending them back to Rwanda, a third country, if they came here illegally.

What the prime minister has agreed with President Macron today is a big deal. It’s a one in, one out deal.

What they’re going to do is, if someone arrives here illegally, they will be sent back to France, and in return, the UK will accept a legitimate asylum seeker. It might be someone who has family ties.

It’s going to start off really small – think of it as a pilot – as they’re going to test it out, see if it works.

It might be just a handful of people being sent back, maybe just under a thousand or so by the end of the year. But they will hopefully, for the prime minister, scale it up and it could become a real deterrent.

I’ll leave you with just one more thought: As Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron were doing this deal today, Nigel Farage was in the English Channel documenting illegal migrants making that crossing – 79 people being picked up by Border Force, taken off a dinghy and into Dover.

Polling out this morning by Portland suggests four in 10 voters who are planning on going to Reform would go back to Labour if the prime minister tackles small boats and drives down the crossings.

There is a real political imperative for him to try to start to resolve this problem. It’s going to count at the ballot box – immigration is a top-three issue in this country when it comes to voters.