UK prime minister warns against making Palestinian state unattainable

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that Israel's "E1" settlement project divides the West Bank and "threatens to make the establishment of a viable Palestinian state unattainable," stressing that "this cannot be allowed to happen."

Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Burnham added that Britain has banned trade in goods from illegal settlements and imposed sanctions on those involved in the settlement project, reflecting its position that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal.

According to remarks reported by Asharq, the prime minister said the threats facing Israel do not justify its government's actions in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing that London will not stand by as suffering intensifies and prospects for a two-state solution are undermined.

Burnham noted that large numbers of civilians, including children, have died in Gaza and that the enclave is not receiving sufficient aid, stressing that the war has lasted longer than it should have.

The prime minister described the two-state solution as "the best hope for peace and stability for Israelis and Palestinians," affirming that Britain will work to end suffering and loss of life, and to preserve the possibility for both peoples to live side by side in peace and security.