Portrait of Gordon Brown
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Gordon Brown on Israel

Two-state advocate (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Gordon Brown advocates for a two-state solution while condemning violence and insisting on adherence to international law by all parties.

Key Points

  • He addressed the Israeli Knesset in 2008 while outlining western support for a two-state deal based on 1967 borders with land swaps.

  • In 2009, Human Rights Watch urged him, as Prime Minister, to press his Israeli counterpart to end abuses and cooperate with accountability mechanisms.

  • He recently called for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access to address the emergencies in Gaza.

  • He remains a Patron of the Jewish National Fund UK, an affiliation which has been cited as evidence of complicity in war crimes.

Summary

Gordon Brown’s position regarding Israel and the Palestinian territories is centered on achieving a durable peace through a two-state solution, a goal he actively pursued while serving as Prime Minister. He views the failure to secure such a deal in 2008, which he describes as being "inches away," as a major diplomatic setback, and believes a blueprint for peace based on 1967 borders and land swaps still exists. In more recent statements concerning the Gaza conflict, he has strongly condemned the violence, insisting that Hamas terrorists be prosecuted for war crimes and stressing Israel's right to defend itself, while simultaneously asserting that the international community must ensure adherence to the laws of war and protect non-combatants, particularly children, from harm.

He has publicly suggested that aspects of international law are currently being broken in the Middle East, demanding that world leaders insist upon their observance. Furthermore, his historical record includes involvement with organizations like the Jewish National Fund UK, which has drawn criticism from solidarity groups for its policies regarding land use in Israel. However, more recently, he has called for a comprehensive plan that includes a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and a clear path back to mutual two-state negotiations, emphasizing that persuasion, not dictation, should guide international engagement with the region.

Key Quotes

"People are not observing the laws for the conduct of warfare, and they've got to be observed.

"Children do not start wars or plan acts of terrorism, but too often they are their greatest victims"

Frequently Asked Questions

Gordon Brown currently advocates for a renewed push toward a two-state solution to bring about an enduring peace settlement. He strongly condemns the violence and insists on the protection of civilians, particularly children, in the ongoing conflict.

His position appears to have evolved, shifting from strong past support for Israeli state-building activities, including being a patron of the JNF, to more recent, direct calls for adherence to international law and accountability for all violations.

The former Prime Minister suggested that international law was being broken during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. He called for the international community to insist that the laws for the conduct of warfare are observed by all combatants.