Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill

Andy Slaughter Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 17th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)]

I congratulate the hon. Lady on her Bill and I hope that it makes some progress. She is right about the preconditions, particularly when the Government in Israel are effectively now annexing the occupied territories. Given that the House has voted for recognition and the Government have said that they support recognition, although not when, there must be recognition without preconditions, as she said. It cannot form part of the negotiations, otherwise Israel and Palestine will be on different bases. We can define the borders of Israel only by defining the borders of Palestine, and we must recognise both countries equally.

[Layla Moran]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I simply ask: if not now, when? What are we waiting for?