French legislators have today, voted 339 to 151 in favour of symbolic motion to recognise Palestine as a state.
Similar resolutions had already been approved by British lawmakers on October 13 and Spanish lawmakers on November 18. Sweden also voted to recognise Palestine as a state on October 30.
The French National Assembly’s vote today is likely to raise domestic political pressure on the French government to be more active on the issue.
There has already been an Israeli counter-strike to this.
While the vote is non-binding, Paris has in the past already made known that it plans to recognise a Palestinian nation “when the time comes,” arguing that a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict logically implies recognition of Palestine.
When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about the motion, he said it would be a ‘grave mistake.
Subdued anger is likely to be their response.
The text introduced by the ruling Socialists “invites the French government to use the recognition of the state of Palestine as an instrument to gain a definitive resolution of the conflict.”
Fabuis’ statement
Last week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the lawmakers the UN Security Council is working on a resolution to relaunch and conclude peace talks.
A deadline of two years is the one most often mentioned and the French government can agree with this figure.
Fabius said, France is prepared to host international talks to drive the peace bid forward.
“An international conference could be organised. France is prepared to take the initiative on this. And in these talks, recognition [of the Palestinian state] would be an instrument… for the definitive resolution of the conflict,” he said
[myad]
