But Sunak told Piers Morgan in an interview that Cameron’s comments had been “over-interpreted,” and downplayed the idea that U.K. policy had changed.
“Our position is the same,” Sunak said. “David was saying that we are committed to a two-state solution. We absolutely are committed and that’s been a long-standing position of the U.K. government.”
Asked directly by Morgan if the U.K. would consider recognizing a Palestinian state before the conclusion of any peace process — as Cameron had hinted the government could do — Sunak said the U.K. would only do so “at a point where it is most conducive to the process.”
Cameron faced a backlash from some Conservative MPs after his comments.
Former Tory Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers warned in the House of Commons that “bringing forward and accelerating unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state would only “reward Hamas’ atrocities” following the group’s deadly assault on Israel last October, which led to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.
The U.K. is among those countries continuing to argue that a two-state solution is the only viable long-term solution to the conflict.
But such a proposal — and any move toward recognizing a Palestinian state— faces fierce resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
