PALESTINIAN ambassador Husam Zomlot has said the immediate recognition of the state by Britain has never been closer — but warned against the “politicisation” of protest groups after Palestine Action was banned under terror laws.

Nearly 60 MPs wrote to Foreign Secretary David Lammy demanding the immediate recognition of the Palestinian state, and Unite the Union voted to back the call at its policy conference last week.

Mr Zomlot told the Morning Star: “We are at the closest stage because the people of Britain have spoken and the government realises this and the pressure is mounting.”

Parliament is fully behind the move and “we know the pressure within the Labour Party to do so,” he added. “Everything is ready for the Prime Minister to take that decision — but he’s not taking the decision yet.”

He declined to express support for Palestine Action following its proscription by the Home Office, but said: “I support people’s right to expression in accordance with British law and international law. 

“There are laws in this country, in the UK there’s a very good court system, one of the most renowned judicial systems. So let the law speak and give people the right of expression, the right of protest, the right of freedom, and if any violate the law, the courts are there and the police are there. But we don’t want the politicisation of this.”

Addressing crowds at the Durham Miners’ Gala, he said: “The British people have turned this country into the top epicentre of solidarity and support for Palestine — this has become the largest and the longest protest movement in the history of this country.”

Durham Miners’ Association president Stephen Guy said: “This platform and the unions here present today have a proud history of fighting oppression. 

“That’s why, when we hear elected Tory or Reform politicians suggesting that this Big Meeting has no relevance and should be confined to the history books: well, our message is loud and clear, pal: we are still here.”

Transport union RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey called for a public inquiry into the “complicity of our government into carrying out the biggest genocide in history” and hit out at ministers’ attempts to “criminalise dissent against genocide and war around the world.”