Starmer’s Best Friend Sands Slammed Over Palestine Recognition Defence – Guido Fawkes

Starmer’s Best Friend Sands Slammed Over Palestine Recognition Defence

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Absent of any actual legal defence from Labour for Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestine his close friend Philippe Sands KC has offered his support for the move. Sands said in the Guardian:

“I have no doubt whatsoever that if it were asked, the ICJ would reject the argument that it is somehow unlawful to recognise the existence of Palestinian statehood. Palestine meets all the legal criteria of statehood; all that remains is a political consideration, namely whether to recognise or not that those criteria are met. The court’s language makes clear that that right exists now, and it exists because all the criteria for statehood are met.”

That has raised some eyebrows. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum – a barrister who is former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and current special envoy for innovation for the Israeli Foreign Office – tells Guido:

“Philippe Sands’ contention that the Palestinians meet all the criteria for statehood is fundamentally flawed. He’s conveniently overlooking some pretty significant legal criteria such as recognised borders – which do not exist – and a legitimate leadership that represents its people. Does he or the Labour Government seriously want to recognise a UK proscribed terrorist group as the legitimate leaders or even Mahmoud Abbas, the PA President who hasn’t held elections in 20 years?”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel also tells Guido:

“Starmer’s spineless pandering to his backbenchers has created a serious international mess with his incoherent statement on recognition of a Palestinian state. While hostages are still being held in terrorist captivity and Hamas continue their murderous acts, Starmer is once again turning to his old pal Philippe Sands – a key player in the surrender of the Chagos Islands – to try and give him legal cover for his betrayal of Israel and his defence of Hamas.”

The White House criticised the UK by name for Starmer’s decision last night. 38 peers have also put pressure on attorney general Richard Hermer to clarify that the Montevideo Convention conditions for statehood are not reached currently by Palestine. Many legal minds think the matter has nothing to do with what the ICJ may have said in the past…