RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK will formally recognize the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various “substantive steps.”

In a statement, the foreign ministry said: “The Kingdom renews its call to the international community and peace-loving countries to take serious steps that affirm the inherent right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Starmer said on Tuesday that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel has not taken the steps demanded by the time the UN General Assembly is held in September.

It must “end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect” of a two-state solution, he added.

“I’ve always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,” Starmer said.

“With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”