The Overton window on what is acceptable to say has shifted dramatically in recent years, especially when it pertains to Trans+ rights

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Shows we think look good at Edinburgh Fringe 2025! Don’t forget, if you’re at the festival, you’re welcome to join our Dykes To Watch Shows With WhatsApp group, for finding friendly folks to watch...

<article data-history-node-id="426570" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/opinion-recognition-palestinian-state-should-not-be-pawn-diplomatic-game" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/opinion-recognition-palestinian-state-should-not-be-pawn-diplomatic-game" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Opinion: Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>On 29 July,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">UK</a>&nbsp;Prime Minister Keir Starmer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-words-on-gaza-29-july-2025" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;Britain&nbsp;would recognise a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/palestine-state" target="_blank">Palestinian state</a>&nbsp;at the UN General Assembly in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace".</p> <p>Of course, any British recognition of the state of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, if and when it happens, would mark a historic moment. Britain bears a unique responsibility as the author of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/balfour-declaration-study-british-duplicity" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a>&nbsp;and the mandatory power in Palestine.</p> <p>If&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/why-is-britain-recognising-palestinian-state-what-does-it-mean-2025-07-29" target="_blank">recognition</a>&nbsp;does take place, it would reinforce the British government's stated support for a two-state solution, after decades of recognising only one state,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a>, while denying the other.</p> <p>It would chart a trajectory that rejects Israel's attempt to impose a one-state apartheid reality across the whole of historic Palestine.</p> <p>It would set the terms for any future peace process, in which&nbsp;the end goal must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the British government's stated commitment to a two-state solution, as outlined in its announcement.</p> <p>So why were Palestinians and others not out on the streets celebrating the British government's&nbsp;announcement that emerged from an emergency recall of the cabinet?</p> <h3>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-starmer-should-have-imposed-sanctions-israel">Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game</a>&nbsp;Opinion by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/chris-doyle">Chris Doyle&nbsp;</a></h3> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6eb86022-ecf5-47d0-9892-684bb5cbebcb" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/images-story/protester-starmer-sign-london-4-june-2025-afp.jpg" width="1400" height="788" alt="A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>A protester displays a satirical sign targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, 4 June 2025 (Adrian Dennis/AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;) rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>

The night where LGBTQIA+ folks read REAL teenage diaries. Expect angsty poetry, thirsty fanfic, old tumblr posts + a throwback playlist

Harry Shukman went undercover inside Britain’s far right. What he found is terrifying—and increasingly part of our politics

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