Did Great Britain Change Its Policy About A Palestinian State And Forget To Tell Us?

Last month, in the context of a number of South American countries that recognized a state of Palestine, Great Britain declared it would not recognize a Palestinian state:

A British Foreign Office minister said Thursday that only direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations can achieve peace, adding that the U.K would not recognize a unilaterally declared Palestinian state.

Wrapping up a Mideast tour that included stops in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Alistair Burt said in Jordan on Thursday that Britain would not recognize a Palestinian state unless it emerged from a peace deal with Israel.

Speaking with the Palestinian Ma'an news agency, Burt said London could not "recognize a state that does not have a capital, and doesn’t have borders."

That just seems a bit odd, considering how far Great Britain was willing to go back in November in making a point of informally recognizing a Palestinian state:

Britain Signs 'Treaty Between Nations' with PA

British Foreign Secretary William Hague signed a “treaty between nations” with Palestinian Authority leaders on Wednesday. “This agreement is the first ever bilateral treaty between the two nations,” the British Consulate-General site proclaimed.

The treaty covers cooperation in the film industry. Hague signed a similar agreement with Israel.

Aside from its reference to the “treaty between nations,” the UK Consulate site also referred to Hague's trip to visit PA leaders in Ramallah as “his first visit to Palestine,” apparently recognizing a new country of “Palestine” before even PA leaders have declared one to exist.[emphasis added]

It sure does seem that Great Britain was doing everything in its power to recognize a Palestinian state short of making an official declaration.

So, did something happen between November and January that caused it to change its mind?
Did they get cold feet or have second thoughts because they thought that matters were developing too rapidly with South American countries jumping at the opportunity to recognize a state?

Technorati Tag: Great Britain and Palestinian State.