UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she has made it clear to Israel not to annex parts of the West Bank in response to Britain's decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
The statement came ahead of a UN conference in New York on Monday, where France and other European countries are also expected to make similar announcements.
A day earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the historic decision to recognize Palestine as a state, along with Canada, Australia and Portugal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the move, calling it a “huge reward for terrorism.”
Cooper stressed that he has warned his Israeli counterpart that such a step should not be taken.
"This is a decision to protect the security of Israel and the Palestinians. It is for peace, justice and the security of the entire Middle East," she said.
According to her, extremists on both sides are trying to dim the prospect of a two-state solution, so the United Kingdom has a moral obligation to revive it.
"We recognize the state of Israel, and we must also recognize the right of the Palestinians to their own state," Cooper said.
She added that the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem will continue to operate at this stage, until the diplomatic process with the Palestinian Authority begins.
Within the framework of the UN General Assembly, Cooper will aim to build international consensus on a peace framework for the Middle East.
