Rishi Sunak has publicly disagreed with an Israeli ambassador, who told Sky News the country rejected the idea of a two-state solution.
It is the long-standing position of the UK government that there should be an independent Palestinian state established alongside the existing one of Israel – giving both peoples their own territory.
But asked about the prospect after the war in the region ends, Tzipi Hotovely – who represents Israel in the UK – said “absolutely no”, claiming Palestinians “want to have a state from the river to the sea”.
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Asked about her comments this morning, Mr Sunak said: “We don’t agree with that.”
The prime minister added that “consistently far too many innocent people have lost their lives”, and that he had told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his country “must take every available precaution to protect innocent civilian lives”.
A two-state solution has long been the desired outcome, not just of the UK, but of the US and the United Nations.
It has previously been endorsed by Israel, but only if Palestinian military groups put down their arms – while Palestinians have said they would agree if they could police themselves.
But as the conflict rolls on following the terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October, two Israeli politicians have now rejected the end goal.
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“Israel knows today, and the world should know now that the Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel,” Ms Hotovely told Sky News’ Mark Austin.
“They want to have a state from the river to the sea. They are saying it loud and clear. It’s now two months after the war started. The Palestinian Authority didn’t condemn this massacre (7 October). It’s such a big problem.”
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Israel’s ambassador to the UK has told Sky’s Mark Austin that her country would not accept a two-state solution when the war with Gaza ends
Giving his reaction to the remarks, Mr Sunak said the UK government did not “agree”, adding: “Our long-standing position remains that a two-state solution is the right outcome.”
He went on to discuss the ongoing military action by Israel in Gaza, calling what was going on “incredibly concerning”.
The prime minister added: “I’ve said consistently far too many innocent people have lost their lives. No one wants this conflict to go on for a moment longer than is necessary.
“Of course, Israel has a right to defend itself from an appalling terrorist attack that it suffered. But as I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu just last week, Israel must take every available precaution to protect innocent civilian lives.”
Rishi Sunak also said he had spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu about protecting innocent civilians Pic: No 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak said the UK was “doing a lot” to get more aid into Gaza, and the government was “continuing to press for more access to get more support to the people who need it”.
He also said his government would continue to support calls for a “sustainable ceasefire” when hostages are released and more aid can get in, and when Hamas also stops firing rockets into Israel.