Source: Chatham House –
Recognition of Palestinian state is a ‘first step,’ says Dr Husam Zomlot at Chatham House
News release
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The Head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, HE Dr Husam Zomlot, also discussed the path towards the two-state solution.
Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, visited Chatham House on Tuesday 2 September to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza and prospects for a Palestinian state.
His visit to Chatham House comes at a crucial time in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On Tuesday, Belgium became the latest country to say it will move towards recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month. It joined several countries who have moved towards recognition, some with conditions, including G7 members France, the UK and Canada.
Their moves have been strongly opposed by Israel and the US.
‘We, and with us the region, and the rest of the international community are in desperate and real search for an alternative path,’ said Dr Zomlot.
‘Recognition is a first step. It’s not a final step. It’s just a first, meaningful, significant, step in an international momentum to implement the two-state solution rather than negotiate it.’
Dr Zomlot previously served as Strategic Affairs Advisor to the Palestinian president.
Dr Zomlot holds a PhD in economics from the University of London. He co-founded and chaired the Birzeit School of Government and held teaching and research positions at Harvard University and the University of London.
Chatham House provides a trusted and independent forum for a diversity of viewpoints, convening meetings of people and organisations that can bring about change at a time of immense upheaval in world affairs.