Recognition of Palestine: French vote bugs Israel

PARIS: France’s lower house of Parliament has voted to urge the government to recognize a Palestinian state, in the hope that speeds up peace efforts after decades of conflict. Tuesday’s French vote, approved with 339 votes to 151, is non-binding. But it is a symbolic boost for the Palestinians, amid growing support in Europe for two states. The measure asks the government “to recognize the state of Palestine in view of reaching a definitive settlement to the conflict.” The French government supports a Palestinian state but says it’s too early for recognition. France, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, wants peace talks to restart first. Israel is committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state under a peace agreement, but says such resolutions encourage the Palestinians to avoid negotiations. The vote will harm the peace process and is the wrong message to send to the region, Israel warned. “Israel believes that the vote in the National Assembly ... will reduce the possibility of achieving a deal between Israel and the Palestinians,” the Israeli Embassy in Paris said in a statement. ASSOCIATED PRESS