In just a few days, more than 10,000 Christians have signed a new petition denouncing the UK government’s recognition of a Palestinian state. The petition by Christians United for Israel UK (CUFI) accuses Prime Minister Keir Starmer of rewarding terrorism and undermining Israel’s security.
Des Starritt, CUFI’s Executive Director for the UK, says, “CUFI campaigned thoroughly prior to Keir Starmer’s recognition of a Palestinian state, but as soon as the Prime Minister made the announcement last week, we knew we had to respond with a petition and MP-writing campaign. Seeing the petition grow over the first few days is telling of the mood among many Christians who do not feel listened to by the government, or by some in leadership within the established church.
Starritt continues, “Not only is this decision insulting to Jews, but it is also offensive to Christians and betrays Britain’s Judeo-Christian heritage. Keir Starmer needs to hear the voice of Christians who uphold the Bible’s teachings on the Land of Israel and must understand why such recognition is misguided. The UK government is overstepping its authority and interfering where it has no mandate. We would like to see stronger support for Israel, not steps that undermine its sovereignty.”
The petition states:
“Shamefully, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has granted Hamas a victory and rewarded them for the atrocities of October 7th. Far from advancing peace, this wrongful act pushes peace further away and endangers the lives of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The Palestinian leadership has repeatedly rejected peace, instead choosing the path of terrorism, and now the UK government has incentivised them to pursue terror further. The Palestinians have less reason to seek negotiations because of this misguided decision.”
Signatories contend that the UK government’s decision shows “weakness in the face of terror,” destabilises the region, and emboldens Islamist extremism both abroad and at home. The petition also warns that Britain’s Jewish community has been left less safe by this decision.
The text of the petition highlights both legal and Bible-based objections. It asserts that the UK has no authority to define Israel’s borders, that the move violates the UN Charter and international law, and that it runs counter to the wishes of the British public. Beyond the political and legal dimensions, the petition frames the decision as setting Britain “against God Himself” and risks bringing God’s judgement upon Britain as a result of “dividing the Land of Israel.”
The petition continues:
“We denounce this ungodly act in the strongest possible terms. We condemn the Labour government for its betrayal of truth and justice. We deplore this attack on Judaism, on Christian Zionism, and on the God-given rights of the Jewish people. We stand against every effort to undermine the security of Israel. And we reject the UK government’s attempt to undermine the authority of the Word of God.”
