CAMPAIGNERS accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of “gaslighting” on Palestinian statehood recognition today.

According to sources cited in the Guardian, Sir Keir is expected to make a pledge to “recognise Palestine before the end of any peace process.”

They also claimed he would commit to ensuring such a move is not vetoed by neighbouring countries.

But Momentum slammed it as a weakening of Labour’s previous commitments.

A spokesperson said: “The manifesto Starmer stood on pledged to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. Labour reiterated this in 2022.

“Now, it’s just ‘at some point’ — this is not good enough.

“Spain, Ireland and other countries have already recognised a Palestinian state. But the Starmer leadership rows back on Labour’s policy, then gaslights Palestinians and their supporters that they have somehow advanced.”

Jewish Voice for Labour co-chairwoman Jenny Manson said: “An offer to recognise Palestinian statehood before the end of any peace process, is at the current time, with absolutely no prospect of a peace process, a non-commitment.

“A commitment would be to recognise Palestine now, along with Norway, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia, to give a chance for the peace process to start.” 

And Palestinian Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said: “The reports of the Labour Party manifesto containing a policy to recognise Palestine at some point in the future is a weakening of its position since the 2019 election commitment to immediate recognition.

“The recognition of Palestinian statehood by itself can only be a stepping stone to full implementation of the Palestinian right to self-determination including the right of refugees to return.

“If Labour claims to be committed to recognising the Palestinian right of self-determination, then there are no grounds not to recognise the state immediately, as countries such as Ireland and Spain have recently done.”

Labour’s move could be seen as an attempt to claw back voters who have backed away from the party over its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza.

Following the October 7 attacks, Sir Keir said Israel “had the right” to withhold water and electricity from Gaza.

A month later, he threatened to sack any Labour MP who backed a parliamentary vote in support of a ceasefire. 

He has repeatedly failed to back an arms embargo on Israel or condemn its war crimes. 

Labour lost a third of its vote share in areas with a Muslim majority during recent local elections, an ITV analysis found.

This morning, Sir Keir told the BBC that it is “important we have a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”

When asked if it will be part of the manifesto, he confirmed: “It will be.”

Shadow ministers met today for the party’s clause five meeting to finalise its manifesto which is expected to be launched on June 13.

Labour meanwhile has selected pro-Israel lobbyist Luke Akehurst to run in Durham, who has been pictured wearing a T-shirt proclaiming to be a “zionist shitlord.”

An old video recently surfaced of Mr Akehurst, who is not Jewish, suggesting that anti-zionist Jews “have abandoned very much of their Jewish identity.”

Graham Bash, from Jewish Voice for Labour, wrote to Mr Akehurst and said: “Please don’t lecture us on how to be Jews! It really is a bit condescending.

“Many non-zionist Jews I know are deeply religious and because of it oppose the genocide in Gaza by the state of Israel.

“I am not religious but I am very Jewish. As a Jewish work colleague who did not share my political views once said of me: ‘You may not be religious or support the state of Israel, but you are the most Jewish person I have ever met.’

“And we — and not you — would have been Jewish enough to end up in Auschwitz.”