EU Lawmakers Stop Short of Palestine Recognition Vote

EU lawmakers stopped short on Tuesday of proposing a joint motion urging EU members to recognize a state of Palestine, settling instead on a compromise resolution that peace talks should progress.

Social Democrat, left-wing and Green members of the European Parliament had put forward motions for a symbolic vote on Wednesday to call on the EU’s 28 members to recognize Palestine statehood without conditions.

However, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in parliament, and the fourth largest group, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), said recognition should only form part of a negotiated agreement with Israel.

After talks on Tuesday, negotiators for the center-left Socialists and Democrats, the EPP and ALDE, which together command a large majority in parliament, agreed on the following text:

“[The European Parliament] supports in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution, and believes these should go hand in hand with the development of peace talks, which should be advanced.”

Voting on the non-binding resolution will take place shortly after midday on Wednesday in Strasbourg.

This article appeared in print on page 38 of the December 17th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.