British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Great Britain is ready for the moment when it will formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Lord Cameron said that the Palestinians should be given a political perspective to promote peace in the Middle East, reports the BBC.
The Palestinian people would have to be shown “irreversible progress” towards a two-state solution, Lord Cameron said.
“As that happens, we will consider with allies the issue of recognizing a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations. That could be one of the things that helps make this process irreversible,” he told the Conservative Middle East Council.
The foreign minister also called on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and said it was “ridiculous” that British and other aid vital to the people was being sent back to the border.
Lord Cameron said that the last 30 years have been a story of failure for Israel as it has failed to provide security for its citizens.
“Only by recognizing that failure will there be peace and progress,” he said.
Britain has long supported a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians could live side by side in separate countries.
But Lord Cameron stressed that Britain could give formal, diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state not as part of a final peace deal, but during negotiations.
“At the same time there would have to be a new Palestinian Authority established quickly with technocratic and good leaders capable of governing Gaza,” he said.