Boris Johnson Flays BBC and UK Recognition of ‘Palestine’

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has laid into the BBC for its atrocious coverage of the Gaza War, and into Keir Starmer for his recognition of a “state of Palestine.” More of Johnson’s observations can be found here: “‘Strange to see intellectuals supporting Hamas’: Boris Johnson speaks on Palestinian recognition,” by Josh Aronson, Maariv, November 4, 2025:

In a direct attack to the BBC and Britain’s recognition of Palestine, former Prime Minister of the UK Boris Johnson said, “Strange to see intellectuals supporting Hamas.”

During a European Jewish Association conference (EJA) in Krakow, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sharply criticized the lack of political leadership in the West, condemned the BBC’s coverage, and called the Labour Party’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state “a mistake driven by internal pressure.”…

By “internal pressure” within the Labour Party, Johnson was referring to the increase in the number of Muslim voters and hence in their perceived political power, as well as to those on the far left, the Corbynistas, who because they have been fooled into believing that Israel is a “colonial-settler” state, have made the “cause of Palestine” their own.

His finger was also pointed at the media, particularly the BBC. When one of the participants asked about bias in the British broadcasting corporation, Johnson replied that “they made a corporate decision to cover the Gaza conflict in a certain way. I think it was very sad, and I think it caused huge damage.”…

The BBC, with its omissions, such as failing to note how many UNRWA staff members belonged to Hamas, or not mentioning the IDF’s tremendous effort to warn civilians away from places about to be targeted, and its slanted coverage of the war in Gaza that relies so heavily on casualty figures that Hamas put out, and the reports that the BBC carried from journalists inside the Strip who turn out to be members of, or sympathizers with, Hamas, its continued reliance on reporters with long histories of anti-Israel bias, including John Simpson, Jeremy Bowen, Lyse Doucet, and Barbara Plett Usher, has let its worldwide public believe the very worst about the IDF and Israel, while explaining away Hamas atrocities as justified “resistance” to an “occupier,” even though Israel pulled out of Gaza completely in 2005.

One of the main issues raised in the discussion was the step taken by the Labour Party in Britain, led by Keir Starmer, to recognize a Palestinian state.

Johnson fiercely criticized the decision, saying, “Israel has always faced an existential threat. Why choose this particular moment?” He argued that the decision does not even meet basic standards of international law. “Under the conditions of the Montevideo Convention of 1933… it doesn’t even meet the criteria. You don’t know the borders of this entity, you don’t know who will run it.”…

The “Palestine” Starmer recognized does not exist. It is an imaginary state. No one knows its borders. No one knows who will run its government.. Or who will be in charge of internal security. Or what will happen to the 520,000 Israeli Jews now living in Judea and Samaria, which the Palestinians claim must be part of their future state.

Keir Starmer wants to hold onto the ever-increasing Muslim vote, as well as onto the Corbynistas who form the left wing of the Labour Party and are full of anti-Israel animus, seeing the Jewish state as a colonial-settler enterprise built on land “stolen from the Palestinians.”

There never will be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. After the atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 80% of Israeli Jews say they oppose what is misleadingly called “the two-state solution.” And in the latest polls of Palestinian Arabs in both Gaza and in Judea and Samaria (a/k/a the West Bank), support for Hamas, and specifically for the attack it carried out on October 7 has increased. In Judea and Samaria, as of October 2025, 59% of Palestinians support that Hamas attack. With such figures, how can anyone expect Israel to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state which would unavoidably be turned into a launching pad for future attacks on Israel?

Johnson called on European leaders to change their approach: “When was the last time you heard a European leader stand up and say what a wonderful thing it is to have a thriving Jewish community… and how much they want to attract more Jews to come and live there?” he asked.

“It’s time for a bit of ‘aggressive philosemitism,’ if I can put it that way.”…

“Aggressive philosemitism” means that that European leaders will remind their peoples of all the good that Jews in Europe, and around the world, have achieved, and calling for more Jews to settle in their countries, rather than simply call for an end — if such were even possible — to antisemitism. It is an excellent idea. Keep reminding Europeans of how much poorer their societies would be culturally, scientifically, medically, economically, without their Jewish population. And contrast that with the very different effect the Muslim population has had on their societies.

Imagine Britain without its Jews, if antisemitism continues to grow and drives many Jews to make aliyah to Israel or to seek safety in North America or Australia. Now imagine the U.K. without its Muslims, without their Pakistani grooming gangs and violent street demonstrations and soaring crime rates and No-Go areas where Infidels fear to tread. See the difference?