Labour leader Keir Starmer says Britain will be under a 'strong duty' to play its part in a Middle East peace settlement. AP
Labour leader Keir Starmer says Britain will be under a 'strong duty' to play its part in a Middle East peace settlement. AP
Labour leader Keir Starmer says Britain will be under a 'strong duty' to play its part in a Middle East peace settlement. AP
Labour leader Keir Starmer says Britain will be under a 'strong duty' to play its part in a Middle East peace settlement. AP

Labour-led Britain would recognise Palestine 'at the right time'


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

A new Labour government in Britain would be willing to recognise a Palestinian state but only “at the right time”, party leader Keir Starmer said on Friday.

Mr Starmer refused to commit to recognition within six months of the UK's July 4 election, which he is widely expected to win.

But he said Britain under Labour would be “under a strong duty” to play its part in a two-state peace settlement in the Middle East.

“I think recognition of Palestine is extremely important. We need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel, and recognition has to be part of that,” he told the BBC during his first major interview since the election date was announced.

“It has to be part of the process of resolution. I don’t think it should come at the end, because I think there are all sorts of difficulties and problems there.

“It has to come at an appropriate [time], the right time in the process, but I absolutely believe in it.”

Spain, Norway and Ireland this week said they will recognise Palestine in a bid to revitalise the peace process after months of war in Gaza.

Israel reacted with anger, saying recognition would be a reward for Hamas violence.

Three European countries moved this week to recognise a Palestinian state in a bid to revitalise the Middle East peace process. AFP
Three European countries moved this week to recognise a Palestinian state in a bid to revitalise the Middle East peace process. AFP

The UK's Conservative government has said recognition of Palestine will be part of a peace process but should not come now.

It abstained from a UN Security Council vote on the issue last month, saying the world “must start with fixing the immediate crisis in Gaza”.

Labour has faced internal divisions over Gaza, with some members walking out in protest after Mr Starmer was initially reluctant to call for a ceasefire.

There were signs of Muslim voters turning their backs on Labour at local elections last month, although it still scored impressive results.

A group of Labour backbenchers this week signed a letter demanding that the UK defend investigations into Israel at the International Criminal Court.

Corbyn candidacy

Jeremy Corbyn, the pro-Palestinian former Labour leader whose tenure was dogged by anti-Semitism allegations, announced on Friday he will run to be an independent MP.

Mr Corbyn has been suspended from Labour since 2020, when he said the scale of the anti-Semitism problem had been “dramatically overstated”.

Labour suspended Jeremy Corbyn, its pro-Palestinian former leader, over his response to findings of anti-Semitism in the party. Getty Images
Labour suspended Jeremy Corbyn, its pro-Palestinian former leader, over his response to findings of anti-Semitism in the party. Getty Images

A campaign video showed a brief clip of Mr Corbyn speaking at a pro-Palestinian rally, as he said he would hold the next government to account “on issues of peace and justice”.

“We need a politics that represents an alternative to the horrible, corrupt, arid years of this Tory government,” Mr Corbyn said.

His candidacy in Islington North threatens to give Mr Starmer a local headache even as polls show him heading for victory across the country.

Mr Starmer said it was “a matter for Jeremy”.

“We will have an excellent Labour candidate in Islington North making the same argument as we will across the country, which is it’s time to end 14 years of chaos and division, it’s time to turn the page and a fresh start,” he said.

Also pressed on domestic issues, Mr Starmer said abandoned pledges on tuition fees, welfare and constitutional reform were down to the poor state of the economy and a desire to focus on his five declared policy "missions".

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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On the menu

First course

▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water  

▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle

Second course

▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo

▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa

Third course

▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro

▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis

Dessert

▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate

▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
 

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The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X

Price, as tested: Dh84,000

Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: Six-speed auto

Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km

Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass

Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)

Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman

Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870

Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed PDK

Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km

Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Company%C2%A0profile
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Updated: May 25, 2024, 9:09 PM`