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

Anniebach

There are about 4 million Moslems and a quarter of a million Jews in the UK. France has many more of both but the Moslems outnumber the Jews by a greater factor than in the UK. I think both Starmer and Macron are mostly playing domestic politics when planning to recognise a Palestinian state. It will founder on Hamas's intransigent demands.

I very much doubt Starmer had a choice, there are quite a number of Labour MP’s have a high number of Muslim voters, if he hadn’t gone with the flow would there have been
a push to change leader ? He wants to do much good for the
country

That's interesting that you think Macron is playing domestic politics, because it isn't my impression from French media and talking to friends and neighbours. It seems to me that with the vast majority of UN countries supporting the recognition of Palestine, it is a genuine acknowledgement that the time is right. What made you think otherwise?

What I think of Starmer is he looks like a fish out of water when amongst the likes of Donald Trump and his big stupid gob.
But I’m hard pushed to recall a modern day UK premier who didn’t.
Hate to even type this but Margaret Thatcher?…..Bumbling Boris (aka Trumps Minnie-me)

How many countries share a capital?

silverlining48

David It’s not a big step backward because it has always been part of the two state agreement , that Jerusalem would be shared as a capital for both Israel and Palestine.

Hamas are not in the business of sharing they simply want the Jews out.

There are about 4 million Moslems and a quarter of a million Jews in the UK. France has many more of both but the Moslems outnumber the Jews by a greater factor than in the UK. I think both Starmer and Macron are mostly playing domestic politics when planning to recognise a Palestinian state. It will founder on Hamas's intransigent demands.

I very much doubt Starmer had a choice, there are quite a number of Labour MP’s have a high number of Muslim voters, if he hadn’t gone with the flow would there have been
a push to change leader ? He wants to do much good for the
country

Wyllow3

But thats what they always say, David !!!
It's neither a surprise, nor true.

They just do not have to power they might like. Classic claims by ideology-driven groups that never matches the reality.

Their power is the propaganda value of images of starving children that the media play into our homes day after day

That is their only power - and it is winning.

Their ideology is winning because we are scared to confront it, Afghanistan & Iran is its power base promoted elsewhere by terrorist groups.

I, on the other hand, am glad that Keir Stammer and Britain, together with France and Canada, have joined the other 147 countries (75% of United Nation member states) in recognition of a new Palestine state. Since then, more countries have declared their support for the two-state solution.

Hopefully, this international pressure will put an end to Israel committing genocide through starvation against Palestinians.

I cannot wrap my head around the fact that the Israel government is doing to the Palestinians what the Nazis did to the Jews during holocaust. Perhaps this is a case of violence begets violence.

There are about 4 million Moslems and a quarter of a million Jews in the UK. France has many more of both but the Moslems outnumber the Jews by a greater factor than in the UK. I think both Starmer and Macron are mostly playing domestic politics when planning to recognise a Palestinian state. It will founder on Hamas's intransigent demands.

David It’s not a big step backward because it has always been part of the two state agreement , that Jerusalem would be shared as a capital for both Israel and Palestine.

Giorgia Meloni of Italy was right to criticise Macron and Starmer for this stunt.

Shinamae

From what I read on these political threads at least half of you should be in cabinet 😁

The other half should come from GB news presenters 😁 I know I’m not joking..

From what I read on these political threads at least half of you should be in cabinet 😁

But thats what they always say, David !!!
It's neither a surprise, nor true.

They just do not have to power they might like. Classic claims by ideology-driven groups that never matches the reality.

👏👏👏 David49

David49

As I predicted all it has done is embolden Hamas, Israel is never going to agree to an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
It’s a big step backwards in any ceasefire negotiations, it’s not just Starmer, pandering to public concern produced the opposite result.

I think a lot of us could see this coming, a decision taken out of concern for Palestinians has made the situation worse.
A hamas official was quoted as saying joyfully ‘ victory is coming sooner than we thought!’

Wyllow3

I wonder that myself, Ronib. My brain is slow today, maybe someone can answer it better?

Hamas and all the other extremists, including the Iranian government believe that the whole world should be a fundamentalist Islamic state and if you die trying to achieve that you go to paradise, they have no other aim.

These extremists are not going to change their principles, we must choose, either fight the extremists or join them. The populations of Sub Saharan Africa are having to make that choice now. The whole of the Middle East would be too if US hadn’t given massive military aid to Egypt Jordan and Israel.

Iam64

Withknobsonit - I don’t know how you conclude the fact Lady Starmer is Jewish “is hardly ever mentioned”. It’s frequently raised in news articles. Often used to suggest the prime minister’s decisions in Israel are made by his wife. I’ve seen memes from left leaning groups accusing Starmer of being Jewish so anti Palestinian.
Anti semitism isn’t always out there

Unfortunately much of the left wing in the Labour Party is still anti semitic but had to be much less vocal and obvious about it since Starmer tried to clean the stables.
The new Corbyn and Sultana Party may as well just be called The Anti Jew Party.

Quote ronib Sun 03-Aug-25 09:09:48
So what is in it for Hamas? Wyllow3

It would clear the way for Hamas to continue wiping Jews front the earth

Dear posters, please just call me Wyllow not Wyllow3?
Thanking you, It was a blip when I registered.

I wonder that myself, Ronib. My brain is slow today, maybe someone can answer it better?

So what is in it for Hamas? Wyllow3

Reuters Photograph:
Dawoud Abu Alkas

Guardian, yesterday, 2nd August.

“^Can we finally stop pretending that what we have been witnessing in Gaza over the past 22 months is a “war,” a “conflict,” or even a “humanitarian crisis”? Many of the world’s leading human rights and humanitarian groups – including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders – agreed months ago that what is being livestreamed to our phones on a daily basis is indeed a genocide^”

Isn’t it more reasonable to hope for an area of land that is called Palestine but not to be fully independent. What does fully independent mean anyway? Does it mean attack and kill when the moment takes them? So a Palestine with oversight from Israel with a government in place able to rebuild Palestine and live in harmony with Israel. I wish!

In response to the original question:
irresponsible and ill-judged.

Withknobsonit - I don’t know how you conclude the fact Lady Starmer is Jewish “is hardly ever mentioned”. It’s frequently raised in news articles. Often used to suggest the prime minister’s decisions in Israel are made by his wife. I’ve seen memes from left leaning groups accusing Starmer of being Jewish so anti Palestinian.
Anti semitism isn’t always out there