UK Foreign Secretary Warns Israel Against West Bank Annexation Following Recognition of Palestine

New york: British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had warned Israel not to annex parts of the West Bank in response to the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Cooper made this statement to reporters ahead of a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, which is set to take place Monday evening at the United Nations headquarters in New York. France and other European countries are expected to issue a similar declaration during the conference. In response to a question about the possibility of Israel using the UK's announcement as a pretext for annexing the West Bank, Cooper confirmed that she had communicated to her Israeli counterpart the importance of refraining from such actions. She emphasized that recognizing Palestine is crucial for maintaining peace and security in the Middle East and committed to collaborating with regional partners to achieve these goals. Cooper further stated, "Just as we recognize Israel, we must also recognize the right of the Palestinians to establish their own state." This comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement on Sunday, declaring the United Kingdom's recognition of the State of Palestine. Other countries, including Canada, Australia, and Portugal, have also recognized Palestine's establishment.