Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London that recognizing a Palestinian state now would strengthen extremists, harm hostage negotiations, and destabilize the Middle East.
In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting at 10 Downing Street, Israeli President Isaac Herzog sat down with newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, delivering a blunt warning against Britain’s stated intention to recognize a Palestinian state.
After a private conversation followed by wider talks, Herzog emphasized that such a move would be “a gift to extremists” and a blow to peace efforts.
“Britain and Israel are friends, but among friends there are sometimes disagreements. I made clear that recognition of a Palestinian state at this time would in no way help bring the hostages home, help the Palestinians, or help end the conflict. Instead it would embolden extremists across the Middle East and beyond,” Herzog declared.
The President further condemned any consideration of sanctions against Israel, warning of the “dangerous echoing of Hamas’s propaganda” about starvation in Gaza while 48 hostages remain in captivity.
Herzog also highlighted the wider regional threat:
“Israel’s struggle against the Iranian empire of evil and its terror proxies is the shared struggle of the free world, including Great Britain.”
He thanked the UK government for activating the “Snapback Mechanism” on Iran’s nuclear program, underlining that preventing Tehran from re-establishing its nuclear capability is critical not only for Israel but for global security.
At the center of the dialogue was the urgent push for hostage release, ending the war, and laying the foundation for a future Gaza free of Hamas’s grip.
The London meeting underscored both the deep ties and sharp divisions between Britain and Israel as global powers grapple with the next steps in the Middle East.
