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Corbyn: PM must stand up to Trump on Middle East ‘peace’ deal

JEREMY CORBYN has demanded that Boris Johnson reject Donald Trump’s “peace” plan for Israel and Palestine.

Speaking in the Commons today, the Labour leader warned that the plan, which offers Israel a wish list of its long-held demands, would “lock in illegal Israeli colonisation and deny Palestinians their fundamental rights.”

He urged the Prime Minister to abandon his unwavering support for the US president and tell him, “candidly, on this you are wrong.”

But Mr Johnson dismissed the opposition leader’s concerns, suggesting that Mr Corbyn should be less “characteristically negative” and give the proposals a chance.

“No peace plan is perfect, but this has the merit of a two-state solution,” Mr Johnson claimed.

Mr Trump unveiled his long-anticipated “deal of the century” on Tuesday night while standing side by side with a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not a single Palestinian was present.

Mr Corbyn said there was no chance that the plan would “move towards peace,” as it has “no support from any Palestinian anywhere in the world.”

The Labour leader’s criticism of Mr Trump’s initiative has been echoed by many within his party.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey described it as an “attack on Palestinians, Palestinian statehood and rights of refugees.”

Her fellow leadership contenders Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer branded the plan “reckless,” “damaging” and a “farce.”

Deputy leadership candidate Richard Burgon went one step further, calling on the Labour Party to organise a national demonstration against the US proposals.

“Trump’s plan will kill off the chances of a Palestinian state,” he warned.

“There will be no two-state outcome. Now is the time to act.”

Under the proposals, Israel would gain sovereignty over its illegal settlements, Jerusalem would become its “undivided” capital and Palestinians living in Israel would be transferred to the West Bank.

A proposed Palestinian “state” would be established on the remaining land, but under Israeli control.

The plan does not include any right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced during the Nakba in 1948 and the Israeli invasion and occupation of the West Bank in 1967.

Campaigners have called on the British government to reject the US proposals.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairman Kamel Hawwash said: “The UK government must make clear its rejection of a plan that rides roughshod over international law and … apply pressure through the implementation of sanctions.

“This must begin with an end to arms trade with Israel and a ban on the import of settlement goods.”

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