Rishi Sunak Breaks With Israeli Ambassador To Endorse Two-State Solution

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak openly pushed back on Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely’s rejection of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating the outcome as a long-standing goal on the road to peace.

In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Hotovely “absolutely” rejected the prospect of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Sunak, responding to Hotovely’s comments in an interview with Sky News on Thursday morning, made clear that her position was at odds with the UK government’s policy.

“We don’t agree with that,” the Prime Minister said. “Our long-standing position remains that a two-state solution is the right outcome here, and more immediately, what that’s going on is incredibly concerning.”

He continued: “I’ve said consistently, far too many innocent people have lost their lives. No one wants this conflict to go on for a moment longer than is necessary. Of course, Israel has a right to defend itself from an appalling terrorist attack that it suffered, but, as I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu just last week, Israel must take every available precaution to protect innocent civilian lives.”

Sunak continued his statement, discussing his government’s efforts in the region: “We are doing a lot in the UK about getting more aid into Gaza. We’ve been a leader in that. We’re continuing to press for more access, to get more support to the people who need it and we will continue to support the cause for a sustainable ceasefire where hostages are released and more aid can get in. And that rockets, crucially, stop being fired from Hamas into Israel as well.”

The two-state solution, a concept endorsed by previous Israeli administrations conditionally and favoured by Palestinians under specific policing terms, remains a contentious issue. As the conflict persists following terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th, a clear divergence is emerging within Israeli politics regarding this long-held goal.

Hotovely, in her conversation with Sky News’ Mark Austin, critiqued facilitating the Palestinian goal on statehood and that a new paradigm had been created after the October massacre.

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