In a 274-12 vote, the British parliament overwhelmingly passed a symbolic resolution expressing its support for government recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The resolution urges the Cameron government to recognize Palestine as part of an effort to contribute to a two-state solution in the region. The resolution was introduced and heavily pushed by the Labour Party, which has raised speculation that a future Labour PM might follow through on the recognition, though Cameron is not expected to do so.
The vote was angrily condemned by the Israeli Embassy as a “troubling message” to the Palestinians that they can achieve statehood without an advanced Israeli approval. The PLO, naturally, cheered the move, saying that while it supports talks with Israel, it doesn’t believe the right to self-determination should have to be granted it by the Israeli government.
Sweden also recognized the State of Palestine earlier this month, which fueled similar outrage from Israel. The moves reflect growing EU sentiment toward Palestinian statehood.
Each success of this sort makes it a bit harder for the PA to dissolve itself, and give up that progress.
It is the Israeli strategy to string the PA along without ever doing anything final or meaningful. This serves that, much as they protest it.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian people would be best served by ridding themselves of the PA and pushing for their civil rights under the government which actually controls them. This makes that less likely.
So I am glad to see EU nations standing up to Israel, even in small wasy, but I see this as a real problem too.
"Meanwhile, the Palestinian people would be best served by ridding themselves of the PA and pushing for their civil rights under the government which actually controls them."
I agree, but it's hard to imagine under current circumstances. For example, it is currently illegal for an Israeli citizen to live with their Palestinian spouse. (That one still blows my mind. I thought 'we' were past that kind of thing, at least giving the politically-correct thought police the benefit of the doubt on the subject.) There is much racism to be overcome. Of course the zionists might not be so bold in expressing their prejudices militarily were the U.S. taxpayers not forced to finance their territorial ambitions.
one personal letter from a British aristocrat = indisputable claim to all the land.
vote of the British Parliament = illegitimate interference
I would think that Israel would cheer this development seeing as it supposedly the only state in the Middle East that support a democratic ideology!
🙂
It's time to take back the Balfour Letter. The Israeli's have never come close to meeting it's conditions about the native populations.
Excellent!
Only 286 of 650 members of Commons voted on the issue. That is odd. Why did the Tories and the Liberal Democrats sit on their hands?
Israelis seem butthurt – maybe just maybe they started treating their prisoners because thats what they are really, with some respect they may actually get public sympathy
Best wishes to the PEOPLE OF GAZA.
The real solution may be one state with equal rights for everybody.
Israel will never approve of Palestinian statehood, they should never have had an approval right and it should be taken from them, along with the start of War Crimes Prosecutions, although both sides should face the latter matter!
There isn't enough land left to support the Palestinian state economically even with the pre 1967 borders. Arabs now make up over 50% of the population in the former Palestine Mandate area. Even higher when you subtract Jews who have emigrated but still hold on to Israeli citizenship (over 500,000). This supports the theory that Jews must live in a predominantly non Jewish country in order to really prosper.
The 2 state solution was sabotaged by the Likud leaving only a one state solution possible with one person one vote.. The Jews should be able to hold their own in such an environment. Of course most Zionist would much prefer an apartheid state with Arabs permanently subjugated.
Wonder why this story isn't on Fox News or CNN. Hmmm! Anyone?