“Why choose this moment?’ Boris Johnson slams Palestinian state recognition

It was “bizarre to see intellectuals cheering for Hamas,” the former British prime minister said.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Boris Johnson sharply criticized Britain’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, especially so soon after the Oct. 7 massacre, and lamented the growing wave of anti-Israel sentiment in Europe.

Speaking Tuesday at a European Jewish Association conference in Krakow, Johnson said it was “bizarre to see intellectuals cheering for Hamas,” calling the trend a “paradox of Western politics” that has left many unwilling to confront terrorism.

He questioned how the move could meet international legal standards, citing the absence of defined borders or stable governance. “Why choose this moment, when Israel still faces an existential threat?” he asked, arguing that the decision was meant to placate pressure from within Labour’s ranks and from Muslim-majority constituencies.

He took aim at the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of choosing “a narrative that caused enormous damage” in its Gaza coverage. “They made a corporate decision to tell the story in a certain way,” he said, adding that leadership demands “telling the truth about who Israel is fighting.”

The former British prime minister described the Labour Party’s recognition of a Palestinian state as “a mistake driven by domestic politics rather than diplomacy.”

When asked whether post-Brexit trade negotiations with France influenced the decision, Johnson dismissed the suggestion. “That’s news to me,” he said. “If it had come up, we’d have kicked their backsides.”

Johnson also addressed concerns about Europe’s growing antisemitism, agreeing with EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin that Jewish life on the continent is under strain.

Margolin noted that one in five Europeans now blame Jews for the Gaza war and that measures to combat antisemitism have produced “zero impact.”

Johnson called for what he termed “aggressive philosemitism,” urging European leaders to celebrate their Jewish communities. “When was the last time you heard a European leader say how wonderful it is to have a thriving Jewish community?” he asked.

Rabbi Margolin closed the event urging governments to move beyond statements. “We’re not asking for charity,” he said. “We’re asking for justice—and for real action.”