Israel Slams Irish Motion Endorsing Palestine

YERUSHALAYIM (AP) —
A French senator casts his ballot in an urn supporting a motion, at left, during a vote on the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the French Senate in Paris, France, Thursday. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
A French senator casts his ballot in an urn supporting a motion, at left, during a vote on the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the French Senate in Paris, France, Thursday. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Israel has slammed the decision of the Irish parliament to adopt a non-binding resolution supporting an independent Palestinian state.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon criticized the Irish parliament of giving voice to “statements of hatred and anti-Semitism directed at Israel in a way which we have not heard before.”

Some Irish lawmakers accused Israel of genocide during the parliamentary debate on Palestinian recognition.

Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said Wednesday that Ireland is considering early recognition of Palestinian statehood as a possible tactic for kick-starting Middle East peace talks.

Also on Thursday, France’s Senate narrowly approved a resolution asking the government to recognize a Palestinian state.

French senators voted 153-146 in favor of a non-binding resolution “inviting” the French government to recognize Palestine. The lower house of France’s Parliament adopted a similar measure last week but by a much larger margin.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry noted that “the decision was made by a narrow majority, and Israel thanks the many French senators who refused to support it.”

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