Two-state solution to Israel-Gaza war impossible while Hamas armed, Cameron says
There can be no resolution to the conflict in the Middle East if Hamas is still “armed to the teeth” and capable of attacking Israel, David Cameron has said.
The Foreign Secretary defended the UK’s decision to abstain on the UN vote for a ceasefire in Gaza last week, saying that the organisation was calling for an immediate armistice plus a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and that “those two things don’t go together”.
“If you have an immediate ceasefire but Hamas [is] still armed to the teeth, launching rockets into Israel, wanting to repeat 7 October, you’ll never have a two-state solution,” he told peers on the House of Lords’ European Affairs Committee on Thursday.
“I know the British can be annoyingly sort of logical and factual and down to earth about it… I totally understand countries that just sign up for the immediate ceasefire, say they want a two-state solution and don’t reconcile those things – but I think we should try and reconcile those things.”
The UK was among 23 countries to abstain on the UN General Assembly’s motion for an immediate ceasefire last week, which was largely symbolic and will have little binding impact on the conflict. Ten countries including the US and Israel opposed it.
However, it has been widely interpreted as a bellwether of global opinion, with 153 nations backing the call for a ceasefire – a significant increase from a similar motion put forward on 27 October resolution, which passed by a vote of 120-14 with 45 abstentions.
Speaking in the House of Lords on Thursday, Mr Cameron said it would be “very difficult” to reach a two-state solution in the region but insisted it would be achieved.
A two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East envisions an Independent State of Palestine to sit alongside the State of Israel, west of the Jordan River.
“Long-term security I think requires there to be a state for Palestine as well,” he said, adding that did not agree with “disappointing” comments made by Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely that Tel Aviv would not back a two-state solution.
In his first parliamentary scrutiny since returning to the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary, Mr Cameron also described the war in Ukraine as going “badly” for Russian President Vladimir Putin as he called for more international support for Kyiv.
He told peers that if the UK and EU fail to agree further support packages for Ukraine it would be like “giving a Christmas present to Vladimir Putin”.
The Foreign Secretary also praised the international sanctions regime against Russia, which he said had prevented President Putin spending an extra $400bn (£313bn) on the war – but called for “leakages” to be weeded out the system.
“It’s time to realise that the world has changed and that we are in a more difficult and dangerous and disputatious world,” he said. “We’re in a world where Russia has launched a European war, we’re in a real fight for the sort of security on our continent that we believe in. And extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.”
This story is being updated
