Allies act States make wider move to challenge Israel at UN

A wave of Israel's allies are announcing their recognition of the state of Palestine, as part of a wider manoeuvre designed to ostracise Hamas and challenge attempts by the Israeli government to erase the chance of a Palestinian homeland.

- Patrick Wintour

But the delicate and partly symbolic move by as many 10 states, pioneered largely by the French government, has the potential to lead to a negative spiral of further confrontation amid fears Israel will respond by annexing parts of the West Bank, leading in turn to European trade sanctions and further political isolation for Israel, including an ultimate possible suspension from the UN.

The Israeli response is also entangled with whether the US endorses a further attack on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Countries joining the list of 147 UN states that recognise Palestine are Australia, Canada, Belgium, France, the UK, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta and possibly New Zealand and Lichtenstein.

Others will make the formal announcement today at a special UN conference to revive the waning cause of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but some, including the UK, advanced their declaration out of respect for the Jewish new year. The conference is co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, but the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is not attending.