As we move from Government to Opposition, we must not lose sight of the vital tasks that we attempted but did not complete. Few are more important than the achievement of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel in a peaceful Middle East.

That is why I gave the issue such prominence in the debate in the House of Commons on the foreign affairs aspects of the Queen’s Speech. I put particular emphasis on the importance of not ignoring Gaza, including in any peace talks.

It is tragic that less than a week after I made those comments we saw why the blockade of Gaza is a barrier not only to vital aid and reconstruction materials, but to any hope of peace. The attack on the Gaza flotilla was the latest in a series of self defeating and deadly moves by successive Israeli governments in Gaza.  I joined the international condemnation immediately of an operation that was not self defence, but defence of a failed policy.

Until the people of Gaza can be confident of an education for their children in a school not crumbling around them; of being able to feed and clothe their families adequately; of being able to live without a prescribed list of what they can and cannot use in their kitchens, there is no way that the call of negotiation and peace will be heard.

At the beginning of every Parliament since 1967, the Labour Party has committed itself to a two state solution in the Middle East, and in each successive Parliament, the sense of urgency has increased. That is partly because of the wave of bloodshed, but also because time is not on our side.

Over 40 years of injustice and insecurity has created gloom amongst Palestinians and Israelis. Most people can describe the vision of a Palestinian state – based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and a fair resolution of the refugees issue. But increasing numbers can’t see it. Politics is vitally important – to bridge the gap between the vision and the reality.

I set out in the Queen’s Speech my five priorities:

- a strong commitment to the Proximity Talks, but a determination to see them address substantive issues in a direct way

- clear opposition to settlements as illegal in international law and an obstacle to peace

- direct support for the Fayyad Plan to build a Palestinian state within two years; the Quartet took the unprecedented step of supporting the Plan on 19 March and we want to see that support from the British government

- enforcement of resolution 1860 on Gaza; a “Gaza last” policy will not in my view work; it is vital that the people and significance of Gaza are not forgotten

- and engagement of the region, because unless the Arab states shoulder responsibility, there will be no solution.

Britain, as a member of the UN Security Council and the European Union has an important role to play. Underpinning the priorities I have set out is the following strategy:

First, to insist on the need for an active and substantive top down political process alongside a vibrant process of state building. Both are essential to hold any confidence among the people.

Second, international responsibility. President Obama has joined the UK and many other countries in saying the achievement of a Palestinian state is in the US interest. But America cannot do it alone. The full weight of international opinion needs to be brought to bear. The EU needs to make its voice heard in the Quartet. And the UK needs to make its presence felt bilaterally and internationally, both in political and practical terms.

Third, the regional dimension. One of the biggest shifts in thinking during my time as Foreign Secretary was the essential recognition that we need all 23 states of the Middle East to be part of the solution – a 23 state solution, not just a two state solution. I remain convinced that Arab engagement and responsibility is essential.

I am determined that our voice, as a principled and consistent advocate for our shared vision of Middle East peace, remains loud and clear in opposition. I look forward to working with you to achieve it.

Picture from http://www.davidmiliband.net/

David Miliband is Labour MP for South Shields, shadow Foreign Secretary and a candidate for the Labour Party leadership