So what do GNs think of Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state?

Steelygran did not say what you have attributed to her Annie.

I've asked for Annie's post to be removed.

*I don’t believe Starmer was somehow bullied by his party. It’s more likely he’s read the room in the country he represents.*

Of course he was bullied - the only time he flip flops is when he's been got at. As for reading the room for his country, it hasn't happened yet and unlikely to happen - what a joke this man is.

Steelygran

I've asked for Annie's post to be removed.

I don't like reporting either, but I agree. This topic is far too controversial to allow a basic change of meaning in a "quote".

Quote Smileless2012 Fri 01-Aug-25 18:10:11
Steelygran did not say what you have attributed to her Annie.
Add comment | Report | Private message | Quote Steelygran Fri 01-Aug-25 18:15:24
I've asked for Annie's post to be removed.

I asked a question to “without conditions “

Anniebach

Quote Smileless2012 Fri 01-Aug-25 18:10:11
Steelygran did not say what you have attributed to her Annie.
Add comment | Report | Private message | Quote Steelygran Fri 01-Aug-25 18:15:24
I've asked for Annie's post to be removed.

I asked a question to “without conditions “

So ask StonesofDestiny - it was their quote not SteelyGran

This kind of posting Anniebach (not just you, wherever its done) draws people away from the topic at hand.

its a way of avoiding the issues of starvation and genocide by picking on a little point and running with it, instead of actually discussing anything remotely resembling.

'So what do GNs think of Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state?"

(I don't blame people for defending themselves, but thats all part of getting drawn into the "game", isnt it? Got caught out myself like that often enough)

StoneofDestiny spoke of it and SteelyGran said “I agree”

I must be having a senile moment but … what, if any impact does Starmer’s latest position on Palestine have? I mean what do the actual people on the ground in Israel and Palestine do when all these pronouncements come through?

I suppose when the peace negotiations eventually resume, if the vast majority of countries of the world recognise Palestine as a state, it's very hard for Israel & the US to dismiss a 2 state solution out-of-hand.

Also Israel does respond to these announcements and presumably the people of Israel hear about them; if they are worried by their plummetting reputation internationally, they might get behind a popular movement to remove Netanyahu.

valdavi I don’t believe that Israeli people are really that bothered about how the rest of the world thinks. They are much more into self protection and will never want to be in a position again where 1,200 hostages are taken.

Steelygran did not post what you've attributed to her Annie and the question you asked is irrelevant to this specific point.

What's important IMO is that Starmer as PM to this country will recognise that the Palestinians have as I posted earlier, not just a right to exist but a right to live and FWIW he has my full support.

Where do you live Smileless2012?

In the UK ronib and you?

Uk too Smileless2012 and very removed from the action. Can’t imagine what it must be like. But I understand that Israel won’t stand down over this.

Aren't we lucky that we can't even begin to imagine what it must be like ronib.

Negotiation: discussion aimed at reaching an agreement

For decades the UK Parliament refused to 'talk to terrorists' in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile people were being killed, maimed and unable to live anything like a normal life. Refusing to negotiate achieved nothing. The bodies piled up and the bombs kept going off.
When the government recognised the only way forward was to talk to them, peace agreements began to be made.

People have to understand why terrorist organisations form. We have to look at why people resort to violence in the first place - it's often the only way they feel their grievances are heard. Their often grotesque acts mean they can no longer be ignored.

Being occupied by a foreign power or government, not of your choosing, never ends well. So many examples of this across the world, past and present.

Refusing to talk to terrorists gets you absolutely nowhere.

All wars come to an end at some point. The lesson we never learn is to seek peace agreements FIRST, before the innocent suffer and new generations bearing scars of grief and resentment are formed.

Negotiating to reach a peaceful settlement is a show of strength, not a sign of weakness.

Sadly history tells us that the taking of the hostages was not the first inhumane thing to happen in that area, it was not the start of the division and not the only injustice that happened before or since. We need to look further back to the history of the region or history will continue to repeat itself.

Terrorist groups loose their strength when the people feel represented well by good government they respect and that seeks justice for them. Terrorists thrive amongst chaos. They feed off injustice and anger, while doing nothing for the people they claim to be supporting.

What is going on now in Gaza is an injustice - do we think the children of Gaza, the widowed and bereaved will grow up feeling justly treated? Are we creating a breeding ground for the next generation of terrorists?

We negotiated in Northern Ireland and the roots of the terrorists were cut (not altogether gone, because that part of the world has a difficult history too), but significantly undermined. We need to negotiate now to end this humanitarian crisis that shames us all. How many more innocents must die?

Anniebach

I most certainly did not say:

"They shouldn’t free the hostages.Hamas should continue to use their firearms and should remain as Government"

Nor can I see anybody else who said it apart from you! Very dangerous to tag on comments to people like that. Please get it taken down.

Anniebach

StoneofDestiny spoke of it and SteelyGran said “I agree”

Please drop it! Let's stick to the matter at hand - thesis trying to steer discussion off course imo.

StoneofDestiny - yes, we have to negotiate with terrorists after a certain point. Syria is a good example.
Its not all wonderful there, far from it, but it's no longer the ghastly war torn chaotic place where there was little good and only pain.

There is a feeling of “calm before the storm” today

I think our leader is pretty much toast… very weak man who appears to have no confidence at all..

He obviously hasn’t realised that Hamas will kill his children if they have the chance. I wonder if Lady Starmer has made him sleep on the couch and are his in-laws still talking to him?

The reason western leaders are recognising the a Palestinian state is to put pressure on Netanyahu to desist in his attempts to wipe out the Palestinian people using any heinous means possible, in the absence of a a politically intelligent US leader who can deal with this in an effective manner.

Humbertbear

He obviously hasn’t realised that Hamas will kill his children if they have the chance. I wonder if Lady Starmer has made him sleep on the couch and are his in-laws still talking to him?

Why would Hamas want to kill Starmer's children?