Irish Gov’t to Accept Motion to Recognize Palestinian State

Local Editor

The Irish government will accept a motion to be proposed by the opposition on Tuesday calling on parliament to recognize Palestine as a state, echoing similar recent symbolic decisions in other European Union countries.

European countries have grown frustrated with "Israel", which since the collapse of the latest US-sponsored talks in April has pressed on with building settlements in Occupied Palestinian territories.

The Irish government's decision comes after Sweden became the biggest Western European country to recognize Palestine, and parliaments in Spain, Britain and France held votes in which they backed non-binding resolutions in favor of recognition.

It also follows the passing of a motion in Ireland's upper house in October calling on the government to formally recognize Palestine.

Members of parliament in the lower house are due to discuss the motion proposed by the opposition Sinn Fein party later on Tuesday and on Wednesday. A government spokesman said it will not oppose the bill, meaning MPs will not be required to vote.

The motion calls on the government to "officially recognize the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East al-Quds as the capital, as established in UN resolutions.."

It also recognizes that "continued "Israeli" settlement construction and extension activities in the West Bank, is illegal and severely threatening the establishment of a viable Palestinian state."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team