Italy stops short of recognising Palestine
Israel welcomed the parliament's decision not to recognise Palestine as independent state
ROME (AFP) - Italian deputies on Friday approved two resolutions calling on the government to support the goal of a Palestinian state but, in a move welcomed by Israel, stopped short of supporting recognition now.
A motion in support of recognising Palestine and another opposing any steps in that direction were voted down.
Israel welcomed the parliament s decision not to follow Britain, France and Spain, whose legislatures have all passed resolutions calling on their governments to recognise the Palestinian territories as a sovereign state.
"We positively welcome the Italian parliament choosing not to recognise a Palestinian state and opting to support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian on the basis of the principal of two states, as the right way to pursue peace," read a statement from Israel s embassy in Rome.
