UK Parliament votes to recognise Palestinian state London: British lawmakers have voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state, a symbolic move intended to increase pressure for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Legislators in the House of Commons voted 274 to 12 to support a motion calling on the British government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.” Prime Minister David Cameron and other government leaders abstained, and more than half of the 650 Commons members did not participate in the vote. But the motion had support from both government and opposition lawmakers, who said it could help kick-start the peace process following a summer war in Gaza that claimed the lives of more than 2,100 Palestinians, the majority civilians, and more than 70 Israelis, most of them soldiers. However, the government said the vote would not change Britain’s official diplomatic stance. Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood said the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood when it would help bring about peace. In 2012 the United Nations General Assembly voted to recognise a state of Palestine on territories captured by Israel in 1967. But the United States and many European countries have not followed suit. Earlier this month Sweden’s new Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said his government would recognise the state of Palestine, an announcement that drew praise from Palestinian officials and criticism from Israel.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 07:51:42 +0000
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