Stepping up before meetings kick off in New York would allow Downing Street to gain extra credit with Labour MPs and party members, who lean toward supporting the Palestinian cause, while maintaining solidarity with the other nations expected to make a commitment at the France-led summit.
Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, said: “I’ve been waiting 15 years for this … I’m really happy that it’s going to finally happen, and it doesn’t really matter what day it is.”
Richard Gowan, U.N. director at Crisis Group, said making a collective move would have the advantage of “safety in numbers” since “it reduces the risk that the U.S. will single anyone out for retribution from the U.S.,” adding, “I am not sure the U.K. wins or loses very much reputationally depending on the exact order.”
The question of recognition was a clear point of difference between Starmer and Trump during an otherwise harmonious state visit, with Trump specifying at their joint press conference that it was “one of our few disagreements.”
But he did not go on the attack — and even patted Starmer on the back as the British PM condemned Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Preparations are underway to mark the occasion on Monday, with Head of Palestinian Mission to the U.K. Husam Zumlot due to oversee a flag-raising ceremony in London, said a person with knowledge of the preparations.