Paco 3,040 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 French lawmakers on Tuesday urged their 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 frustrated with Israel, which since the collapse of the latest U.S.-sponsored talks in April has pressed on with building settlements in territory the Palestinians want for their state. The motion received the backing of 339 lawmakers with 151 against. It comes after Sweden became the biggest Western European country to recognize Palestine, and parliaments in Spain, Britain and Ireland held votes in which they backed non-binding resolutions in favor of recognition. The text, proposed by the ruling Socialists and backed by left-wing parties and some conservatives, asked the government to "use the recognition of a Palestinian state with the aim of resolving the conflict definitively". "We don't want a symbolic recognition that will only lead to a virtual state," Europe Minister Harlem Desir told lawmakers in reaction to the vote. "We want a Palestinian state that is real so we want to give a chance to negotiations." Palestinians say negotiations have failed and they have no choice but to pursue independence unilaterally. "Israel believes that the vote ... will only jeopardize the possibility of reaching an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said. "Such decisions only toughen the Palestinian positions and send a wrong message to the leaders and peoples of the region." Fabius said on Nov. 28 the status quo was unacceptable and France would recognize an independent Palestine without a negotiated settlement if a final diplomatic push failed. He backed a two-year timeframe to relaunch and conclude negotiations and said Paris was working with Britain and Germany on a text that could be accelerated if a separate resolution drafted by Palestinians is put forward. The vote in Paris has raised domestic political pressure on France to be more active on the issue. A recent poll showed more than 60 percent of French people supported a Palestinian state. France has the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in Europe and flare-ups in the Middle East tend to aggravate tensions between the two communities. Right-wing lawmakers criticized the Socialist majority for backing Palestine recognition to win back support from Muslim voters who were dismayed by a gay marriage law passed last year and President Francois Hollande's apparent support for Israel's intervention in Gaza. "It will add fuel to the fire in a region that doesn't need that at all," said Christian Jacob, leader of the conservative UMP party in parliament. source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/02/us-mideast-palestinians-france-idUSKCN0JF3DW20141202 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Child 18,997 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Slay France ! :D ‘If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred.’ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sampool 5,560 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Yaaaaaaaaassss!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VersaceKing 419 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 It's not a recognition in the state, so that has nothing official or formal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooke Candy 3,970 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSS FRANCE!!! buy 'Paper or Plastic' by Brooke candy on iTunes NOW!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc 4,776 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 :applause: my country better hurry! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmm 979 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 It's not a recognition in the state, so that has nothing official or formal. But it does highlight that their parliament (ergo their people under the idea of representative democracy) or in support of this and does go to show that Western Europe (ie. France joining Ireland, Britain and Spain) has a desire to recognise the state of Palestine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qualle1 1,385 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 This is the right decision. MAKE LOVE NOT WAR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolev 867 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 But it does highlight that their parliament (ergo their people under the idea of representative democracy) or in support of this and does go to show that Western Europe (ie. France joining Ireland, Britain and Spain) has a desire to recognise the state of Palestine. With the numbers of Muslims in this region it's not a surprise. Luckily the governments understands the meaning of recognition with no peace treaty aside and will leave it unofficial. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmm 979 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 With the numbers of Muslims in this region it's not a surprise. Luckily the governments understands the meaning of recognition with no peace treaty aside and will leave it unofficial. How does that explain Ireland? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolev 867 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 How does that explain Ireland? Excluding Ireland. I know your Irish so forgive me, but your country never showed too much sympathy with Israel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmm 979 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Excluding Ireland. I know your Irish so forgive me, but your country never showed too much sympathy with Israel. Oh, no need to apologise for that I realise that Ireland (probably more-so than any other western european country) has always been pro-Palestine but the timing would still indicate something Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolev 867 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Oh, no need to apologise for that I realise that Ireland (probably more-so than any other western european country) has always been pro-Palestine but the timing would still indicate something Absolutely! it's no secret Israel is losing big time in the battle on world opinion. Fighting for the weak is much more trendy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmm 979 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Absolutely! it's no secret Israel is losing big time in the battle on world opinion. Fighting for the weak is much more trendy. Am I detecting a mellowing of staunchness in opinion? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolev 867 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Am I detecting a mellowing of staunchness in opinion? Well, I was never so hardcore like people here made me look. :shy: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.