Hareetz has a story on how Hilik Bar, an Israeli official, has been trying to thwart the vote on recognising Palestine.

Hilik Bar, the secretary-general of the Israeli Labor Party, according to the Israeli paper, sent a letter on Monday to the British Laboour party's senior MPs, following a conference call with several members of the Labor Friends of Israel parliamentary group.

"I understand why many of you will want to vote for anything which claims to be a contribution to peace. But immediate and unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood does nothing to advance this vital cause. In fact, precisely the opposite," the letter continues.

Bar added: "To counter such arguments, and get the peace process moving again, we in the Israeli Labor party need your help, which is why I urge you to stick to your party’s long-standing policy of a negotiated two-state solution, and oppose any unilateral moves which threaten that goal."