David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Friday 20 November, 2009

Building a Palestinian State

I set out my views on the news of settlements in East Jerusalem earlier in the week. They have undoubtedly reinforced scepticism about the chances of peace in the Middle East. But I was also struck by the announcement this week that forty-two Palestinian security personnel were being investigated for abuses. That might look like bad news. It's not. I've seen with my own eyes in Jenin how the Palestinian security forces are making West Bank towns safer for ordinary Palestinians, as well as combatting terrorism. But there are also very real concerns about how some detainees are treated. That is now being addressed.

Palestinians are working to develop, with our and others' support, the highest professional standards: both in effectiveness and accountability. They have taken some big steps. We have been able to relax our security advice to British visitors to the West Bank and, in September, sponsored a tourism mission. The Palestinians are building their own state - which means security forces they can trust and be proud of. Prime Minister Fayyad called it last week "positive unilateralism".

Posted at 11:36 20 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[14]

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Sir, this is a good news that Palestinians are working for a strong nation, where citizens can live with love, peace and unity. [Prabhat Misra, District Savings Officer, Etawah, U.P., India ]

Posted by Prabhat Misra on November 20, 2009 at 02:32 PM GMT #

So...you're hopefull about Palestinian State. I'm glad to hear that...

Posted by Hilal Köylü on November 20, 2009 at 03:03 PM GMT #

Is this all you have got to say about building a Palestine State! The European Union reported yesterday that the actions taken by the Israeli government contravene repeated call by the international community. They further imply that the Israelis do not want peace. However, our Foreign Minister rabbits on about minor issues. For years you and previous Foreign Ministers say that you gain more from working with Israel and more or less indicate that it would not advance the peace process by upsetting your friends in Israel. When will you face up to the fact that this appeasement policy is getting the Palestinians nothing except more depredation, more pain, more humiliation and more wars. It is the worst type of support that you can give to the Palestinians. You imply that you are working for peace and you have been doing this for years but the Palestinians are further and further away from achieving their own state. Let us have an open and honest debate in the UK about this. I will be arguing for a one state solution and the citizens of that state are all those who are currently living their or who have been expelled. I suppose you will continue to argue for an apartheid solution.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on November 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM GMT #

The statements from the British and American governments regarding illegal settlements are welcome. How can the Israeli government seriously think that demolishing Palestinian homes, in what amounts to a land grab, will help support peace and reduce terrorism! Lets hope that some substantive action will be taken to show that such settlement expansion is unacceptable. A cut in the US military aid budget to Israel [totalling $2.8 for 2010] might help to concentrate some minds.

Posted by Richard Hopper on November 22, 2009 at 10:34 PM GMT #

As usual the discourse on Palestine is disproportionately favoured towards the Israeli regime. It is indeed good that the Palestinian Authority are sorting out abuses by their own security personnel, however, it would be even more significant if they were allowed to sort out abuses by the Israeli Defence Force and illegal settlers within the occupied territories. Abuses that, over the last 20 years according to B'Tselem, have resulted in 7398 Palestinian deaths, 4300 house demolitions, and as of today, 335 Palestinians in 'administrative detention' detention without trial. You suggest that with yours and others' help Palestinians are working to develop the highest professional standards, well, why restrict this to the Palestinians. Why not expand this aim and help to develop the highest professional standards in the Israeli camp too. A good starting point would be a re-read of the United Nations resolution 181.

Posted by L Pain on November 23, 2009 at 10:47 AM GMT #

Why no comment about Cathy Ashton's momentous appointment?

Posted by Joe Smith on November 23, 2009 at 01:56 PM GMT #

In my post, I meant to say that the US military aid budget for Israel is $2.8 billion for 2010, not $2.8!

Posted by Richard Hopper on November 23, 2009 at 02:04 PM GMT #

Dear David, about a month ago I also visited Israel and had the chance to talk/discuss with Palestinians and Israelis.Of course-we didn't share the same opinions to all the topics. But in two we did: 1st: Both sides saw a "..small progress.." in re. of the peace efforts,supported by the USA and the EU.2nd.:Maybe-most notably-the Palestinians as well as the Israelis agreed that there is at least "..a little step forward.." into the direction of a Two-State-Solution once the problem of the new settlements is solved.Makes me hope if I'm comparing the situation at the beginning of this year and now-Nov.'O9. So I think that you're completely right by writing in yr.last sentences that the Palestinians are building their own state. Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on November 23, 2009 at 04:29 PM GMT #

Paul MacDonald is right. Continued support for Israel only ensures further exploitation and humiliation of Palestinians. There really is no such thing as 'unflinching support for Israel', what exists is the 'stranglehold' Zionism has on America and the UK! Anything other than a single state solution will never be acceptable to Palestinians whose land it is in any case. Zionists through the press and the likes of Mr. Milliband who will rather address trivialities will have us forget that there was no such thing as the State of Israel prior to 1948.

Posted by Sultan Anibaba on November 24, 2009 at 12:24 PM GMT #

Main point is not the highest professional standards out of a still fragile nation, but developing the economic feasibility of Palestine.

Posted by Chamila Liyanage on November 25, 2009 at 09:35 PM GMT #

Great news and I quote: Marking the day, the Foreign Secretary said:'Violence against women undermines our efforts to achieve global security and development. The international community must be united in our condemnation of domestic and gender-based violence, and in our efforts to eliminate violence against women wherever it occurs. Britain will remain committed to this task.' I am sure that the women and girls in Gaza will so be pleased to read this following their experiences earlier this year. You are so pleased to report that the Palestinian security services are being investigated. No doubt you will support the investigation of Israel into war crimes against women and girls in Gaza.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on November 26, 2009 at 08:32 AM GMT #

Do you understand the anger people feel about your equivocation over Goldstone? Fine words butter no parsnips.

Posted by OwenE2 on December 01, 2009 at 10:43 AM GMT #

Sir, I do really believe that UK should be involved deeply in the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, simply because UK was behind the main reason for leaching this conflict by issueing Balfour Declaration.

Posted by Johnny on December 06, 2009 at 10:55 PM GMT #

What an interesting discussion we have here about the british/FCO role in the Middle East problem, from its inception and onwards. And all this as a result of a trivial comment of D. Miliband! I do detect a slight change in the british policy on this problem since the election of Obama, which is indeed a good indication of how slavishly the british policy is defined in accordance to Washington's desiderata. This regretful attitude has prevented the UK from playing a constructive role in the collective efforts of the EU towards solving the problem; it is a shortsighted approach, the cost of which is solely payed by the Palestinian people.

Posted by Yiayia Clotilde on December 15, 2009 at 04:23 PM GMT #

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