RAMALLAH, West Bank — This year's annual conference of the UK Labor Party could have been promoted as a pro-Palestinian rally in some regards. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, in his closing speech on Sept. 26 in Liverpool, pledged to recognize an independent Palestinian state if Labor wins in general elections. On other fronts, party delegates passed a motion to condemn Israel’s use of force in cracking down on protesters in Gaza, to urge more UK funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency and to back a freeze on British arms sales to Israel. Attendees waved Palestinian flags in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Corbyn and his party’s stance toward Palestine and Israel follow allegations of anti-Semitism against him and his party over the past few months. Corbyn’s positions are a first for Britain, where all governments have refused to recognize a Palestinian state and have continued to stand by Israel.

Palestinians attach great importance to Britain in particular recognizing the State of Palestine because of its issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 — announcing its support for the “establishment in Palestine of a national state for the Jewish people” — and its role in the establishment of the State of Israel.

Members of the Palestinian leadership welcomed Labor’s stated positions and hope that more European countries will follow suit. Nabil Shaath, foreign policy adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, referred to Labor as “brave,” and told Al-Monitor, “Despite some attempts to accuse Corbyn of being anti-Semitic, for his criticism of Israel, he proved to have the upper hand in the party.”