- Recognition of Palestine as a state
French lawmakers are set to vote to call on the government to recognize Palestine, a symbolic move that will not immediately affect France’s diplomatic stance but demonstrates growing European impatience with a stalled peace process. While most developing countries recognize Palestine as a state, most Western European countries do not, supporting the Israeli and U.S. position that an independent Palestinian state should emerge from negotiations with Israel.
European countries have grown increasingly frustrated with Israel, since the collapse of the latest U.S led talks in April continues to construct settlements in the same territory that the Palestinians want for their state. Palestinians say negotiations have failed and they have no choice but to pursue their independence on their own accord. In October, Sweden became the biggest Western European country to recognize Palestine, and parliaments in Britain and Ireland both held votes in which they supported non-binding resolutions in favour of recognition.
The vote which is stipulated to be passed today, has raised domestic political pressure on the French government to be more active on the issue. A poll that was recently conducted revealed that over 60 percent of French people are supportive of the motion to grant Palestine recognition as a state.
Extracted and modified from Yahoo News
