In a move critics call appeasement of Hamas, Britain warned Israel not to extend sovereignty in Judea and Samaria after recognizing a Palestinian state—while refusing to move its East Jerusalem consulate to embassy status.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a pointed warning to Israel this week, declaring that London will not tolerate an Israeli sovereignty response following Britain’s recognition of a so-called Palestinian state.
Speaking to the BBC, Cooper justified the controversial move, saying:
“Just as we recognize the State of Israel, we must recognize the right of the Palestinians to their own state.”
Yet, while rushing to reward Palestinian leadership—still partnered with Hamas terrorists—Britain stopped short of elevating its consulate in East Jerusalem to an embassy, signaling hesitation about full diplomatic weight. Cooper said London would “determine the next steps in the diplomatic process at a later stage.”
Israeli officials blasted the decision as “diplomatic hypocrisy”: Britain recognized a Palestinian entity that glorifies terrorists, pays stipends to murderers of Jews, and refuses to dismantle Hamas’ military infrastructure—while demanding Israel hold back from securing its ancestral heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Security analysts noted that Britain’s policy risks emboldening Palestinian violence and undermines Western credibility. “Rewarding rejectionism while constraining Israel’s sovereignty sends exactly the wrong signal,” one Israeli diplomat said.
For Israelis, the message is clear: London is once again appeasing aggressors at Israel’s expense, while Jerusalem remains determined to protect its people and its land.
