Palestinian delegate to Spain Musa Amer Odeh (C, with scarf) celebrates after Spanish lawmakers approved a non-biding motion urging their government to recognize Palestine as a state, albeit only when the Palestinians and Israel negotiate a solution to their long-running conflict, at the Spanish Parliament in Madrid November 18 (Photo: AP)
Spain's Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a largely symbolic resolution that recognizes a Palestinian state.
The non-binding resolution follows moves in other European countries intended to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The vote Tuesday night was 319 in favor with two opposed and one abstention.
Britain and Ireland approved similar motions last month. Sweden's new left-leaning government went further and officially recognized a Palestinian state Oct. 30 — prompting Israel to withdraw its ambassador from Stockholm.
The European efforts reflect growing international impatience with Israel's nearly half-century occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The Socialist opposition party that presented the resolution condemned the killing Tuesday of four people in a Jerusalem synagogue by two Palestinian cousins.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online
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