Spanish lawmakers call on govt to recognise Palestine

Published November 19, 2014
Spanish lawmakers approved a non-biding motion urging their government to recognise Palestine as a state.—Reuters/ Susana Vera
Spanish lawmakers approved a non-biding motion urging their government to recognise Palestine as a state.—Reuters/ Susana Vera
Palestinian delegate to Spain Musa Amer Odeh (C, with scarf) celebrates after Spanish lawmakers approved a non-biding motion urging their government to recognize Palestine as a state.— Reuters/Susana Vera
Palestinian delegate to Spain Musa Amer Odeh (C, with scarf) celebrates after Spanish lawmakers approved a non-biding motion urging their government to recognize Palestine as a state.— Reuters/Susana Vera

MADRID: Spanish lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a motion on Tuesday, calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations.

The motion submitted by the opposition Socialists asks the conservative government to recognise Palestine in coordination with any similar move by the European Union.

It was adopted nearly unanimously in the lower house of parliament, with 319 in favour, two against and one abstention.

Also read: Sweden recognises Palestinian state: foreign minister

The text asks the Spanish government to “recognise Palestine as a state, subject to international law,” while adding that the “only solution to the conflict is the co-existence of two states, Israel and Palestine,” reached through negotiation.

“It is not binding, it does not set a timeline for the recognition, it gives the government the margin to proceed with the recognition when it feels it will be opportune,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said in Brussels on Monday.

“If we want to be effective this recognition must be done in coordination with the European Union,” he added.

The motion follows moves in other European countries intended to increase pressure for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Know more: View from abroad: The debate on a Palestinian state

Britain and Ireland approved similar non-binding motions last month that call on their governments to recognise Palestine. Neither government has heeded that call.

Explore: UK vote on Palestinian state reflects shifting public sentiment, says envoy

French lawmakers will vote on November 28 on a proposal by the ruling Socialist party urging the government to recognise Palestine as a state.

Sweden's new left-leaning government went a step further and officially recognised a Palestinian state on October 30, prompting a strong protest from Israel, which swiftly withdrew its ambassador from Stockholm.

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