Summary France hopes that it would speed up peace efforts after decades of conflict
PARIS (AP) -- France s lower house of Parliament voted Tuesday to urge the government to recognize a Palestinian state, in the hope that it would speed up peace efforts after decades of conflict.
The 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 has said it s too early for recognition. France, a veto-wielding member of the U.N. 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.
France which has western Europe s largest Muslim and Jewish populations, and has seen tensions erupt between them
has sought to keep good ties with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in recent years.
Israel s ambassador to France spoke out against the proposed resolution last week, saying it was destructive for the peace effort.
