Italy's Parliament Backs Palestinian Statehood
Published 28 February 2015, Source
A Palestinian hangs a Palestinian flag as others erect the steel frames of a tent at a land that they said was confiscated by Israel, during a protest against land confiscations near the West Bank town of Abu Dis near Jerusalem February 3, 2015. | Photo: Reuters
taly followed fellow European lawmakers in the U.K., France, Ireland and Sweden in backing Palestine sovereignty.
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The Italian parliament has voted in favor of non-binding resolution to encourage the recognition of Palestinian statehood, in a further sign of the West's cooling relations with Israel.
Italy followed fellow European lawmakers in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and Sweden in backing Palestine sovereignty Friday, thrust under the spotlight after a 50-day conflict in 2014 in which Israel continually and dispropportionately bombarded the Gaza Strip, leaving upwards of 2,500 Palestinians dead, many of whom were children and women.
The Israeli forces also left hundreds of thousands displaced and destroyed massive numbers of buildings. The total damage was estimated at about US$5 billion.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the go-ahead for illegal building of accommodation on land set aside for a future Palestinian state, which has frustrated long-time ally the United States.
Italy's Chamber of Deputies voted by 300 to 45 to pass the motion presented by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party "to promote the recognition of Palestine as a democratic state.â
In contrast, many developing countries already recognize Palestine as a state, and do not see the need of a peaceful negotiation with Israel.
"We call on the Italian government to recognize the Palestinian state without conditions, to take serious and concrete measures to end the (Israeli) military occupation and to work toward a just peace," PLO committee member Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement.
