Israel-Gaza Conflict: MPs Set to Vote to Recognise Palestine State

MPs are set to back an historic poll calling for the British government to recognise Palestine as a state for the first time.

Politicians from all political parties look set to favour the motion that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the State of Israel.

MPs are set to debate the vote in the House of Commons on 13 October. Britain abstained from a vote regarding Palestine at the UN general assembly in 2012.

Labour MPs especially are likely to approve the idea after being called to do so by party leader Ed Miliband.

However, the vote will only be seen as symbolic and the government would not be bound to apply it as its official position is to support talks for a two-state solution. Ministers are expected to abstain from voting.

Britain's current stance on Palestine is that it reserves the right to recognise it as a state "bilaterally at a moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace", according to former Foreign Secretary, William Hague.

The motion was put forward by Grahame Morris, the Labour MP for Easington, who said the international community has "cruelly refused" the Palestinian people the right to be recognised as a state.

He added: "The two-state solution has been Britain's stated policy aim for decades, but in politics talk often comes cheap.

"So far the government's support for a two-state solution has been in rhetoric only.

"Not only is statehood the undeniable right of the Palestinian people but only an independent and sovereign Palestinian state can save any hope of a two-state solution."

The vote arrived after Sweden became the first major EU country to recognise Palestine as a state – a decision which was met with fury by Israel.

Not all Labour MPs are expected to support the motion despite the party whip. Two members of the Shadow Cabinet are officers of Labour Friends of Israel.

There was backbench division in the Labour party about Palestine following Miliband's public condemnation of a shelling of schools in Gaza.

Some complained his comments on the crisis in Gaza were disproportionate after he said he could not "explain, justify or defend the horrifying deaths" of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces.

Guto Bebb, Tory MP for Aberconwy, has also said he will be opposing the motion.

"The motion is completely contrary to UK Government policy," he said. "How can you recognise a state when the borders have not been agreed? This is profoundly unhelpful to the peace process."

Douglas Alexander, Labour's shadow foreign secretary, said the motion is compatible with Labour's current stance on Palestine.

He said: "Labour's consistent support for the principle of recognising Palestinian statehood, as part of continuing steps to achieve a comprehensive negotiated two-state solution, is why we will be voting to support the principle of Palestinian statehood when the House of Commons debates the issue."