Scotland's 1st Minister Calls UK to Recognize Palestinian State

On Tuesday, Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf urged British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to recognize a Palestinian State, in addition to condemning the violence of the Israelis against the Palestinians. 

The urging of Yousaf came in a letter sent to Sunak, according to the official website of the Scottish government.

Yousaf said in his letter: "It is essential and urgent that the UK makes clear to the Israeli Government, and to the world, that in line with support for a two state solution, only Palestinians can have authority in Gaza. Of course, that authority must be exercised in a way that ensures the people of Israel, as well as Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, are able to live in peace and security."

He added: "The UK needs to work with the international community to break, once and for all, the political impasse that has condemned Israelis and the Palestinians to successive cycles of violence. This would be assisted were the UK to recognise the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, as over 130 members of the United Nations, including nine members of the European Union, have done and as the new Spanish Government has pledged."

Yousaf concluded: "Recognition would offer hope to Palestinians that a just and durable political solution is possible. It would make it plain to the Israeli Government that a military solution is illusory and the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza is unacceptable."