Patrick Wintour

Two years ago, on 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice confirmed that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and clarified the obligations of all States not to recognize or assist that unlawful situation, and to cooperate in bringing it to a rapid end. Since then, the law has become clearer. Implementation has not. This article reflects on what has changed over the past two years, with particular attention to developments in the West Bank and Gaza, and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the duty of international cooperation. It argues that the principal challenge today is no longer identifying the applicable law, but giving practical content to one of the Court's most significant findings: the obligation of States to cooperate in bringing an unlawful situation to an end. After the Court Spoke: Duty to Cooperate on the Question of Palestine linkedin.com/pulse/after-co…

NEW: Bloomberg Saturday read with the great @ChaplainChloe — Andy Burnham wanted to take over on a wave of hope, good vibes and a promise to end the culture of infighting that sank Keir Starmer. Extraordinarily, that optimism is fading before he’s even taken office. — Even some Burnham supporters are already concerned his transition into No10 has been dominated by indecision, a policy vacuum and a power grab by his inner circle. At the centre of it is the remarkable falling out with Ed Miliband and a growing rebellion on the Labour soft-left, the faction that fought to get him the job in the first place. — Labour MPs and aides have a sense of foreboding that, far from representing a break from Starmer, Burnham is already succumbing to the same problems. Labour is united on the need for him to succeed but there’s mounting anxiety, one says. Another warns some of his earliest supporters are already starting to lose faith in the project. — Burnham tried to get ahead of the doubts yesterday, vowing to end the “insidious” culture of briefings, disunity and “point-scoring.” He insisted he had a plan. That followed his email to the PLP where he promised to be an inclusive team player. — But even people who support Burnham say it rings hollow and raises red flags. Several protest how his inner circle are conducting themselves. They say his close advisers have cut broader allies out of conversations about his plans. There are complaints about a top-down, ultra-centralised and opaque operation with an iron grip on power, blocking perceived rivals from jobs, the opposite of the inclusive approach he publicly espouses. — Labour officials say Burnham has already amassed a dangerously long list of internal enemies. The roll call of people with axes to grind may soon include Keir Starmer and his loyalists, Miliband, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, who is outside of Burnham’s circle, as well as Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper if they aren’t given top jobs. That is big and broad range of powerful opponents to have before you’ve even entered No10. — One aide says it was unnecessary to have put so many noses out of joint and that the disquiet is becoming unsustainable. Several warn Burnham risks losing the support of key figures in the party and inviting a leadership challenge before the next election, an extraordinary prospect given Labour was elected on a promise to end the Tory chaos. — The indecision and lack of transparency on appointments has caused nothing short of a meltdown among his allies who expect to get jobs. The fallout with Miliband is infuriating the Labour left who already feel badly let down. Another warns if this is how he treats the person who helped him become PM, it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the party. — Others say Burnham has made a bad error in appointing men to most of the senior roles in his No10 operation. There is disbelief he has reappointed nearly all of Starmer’s senior male aides and none of the senior women, despite his campaign pledging to end what they called a “boys’ club” in No10. — Shabana Mahmood as chancellor risks upsetting all sides, one source says. Many on the left consider her a right-winger due to her immigration stance, but moderates say in fact she holds left-wing economic views that will take the country in the wrong direction. — A Labour source says that when the history of Burnham’s transition into power is written, the question will be: “Were they left with too little time to think about all of this, or too much?" bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

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