UK Lawmakers Pass Symbolic Motion to Recognize Palestinian State

Local Editor

British lawmakers voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state Monday in a move that will not alter the government's stance on the issue, but that carries symbolic value for Palestinians in their pursuit of statehood.

Lawmakers in Britain's lower house of parliament voted by 274 to 12 to pass a nonbinding motion stating: "That this house believes that the government should recognize the state of Palestine alongside the "Israel" as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution."

The UK vote was being watched around the world after Sweden drew anger from "Israel" this month for saying it would recognize Palestine.

It was initiated by backbencher Grahame Morris from the main opposition Labor Party, who during the debate preceding the vote said Britain had a "moral responsibility" to act because of its history as colonial power in the region.

"It's absolutely clear that "Israel"-Palestine relations are stuck at an impasse, as is our foreign policy," Morris said, opening the debate.
"Both of these impasses must be broken. We hear a great deal of talk about the two-state solution but today, through validating both states, members will have the opportunity to translate all of that principled talk into action."

Members of the government, which backs a two-state solution, abstained from the vote, Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said.

"We think that ... you should do everything you can that's supportive of a successful and sustainable outcome based on a two-state solution," the spokesman told a news briefing.
The leaders of Morris' party, Labor, have said that MPs who were in the Commons when the vote took place must back it.

Neither Cameron nor Labor leader Ed Miliband was in the Commons chamber for the start of the debate.
An online petition paving the way for the debate attracted more than 111,000 signatures, Morris said.

Before the debate, a handful of protesters gathered in pouring rain outside the Houses of Parliament, where they had erected a giant banner saying: "Yes Vote for a Palestinian State."
"If there is a state, the aggression would stop and the healing could begin," said one of them, Eddie Clarke. "We feel this parliament has a duty to vote for it."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team