Image: Israeli forces, including soldiers disguised as Palestinians, violently arrest a Palestinian child in occupied Jerusalem on Anadolu / Salih Zeki Fazlıoğlu
Press TV - EU lawmakers have criticized Israel during a debate on the recognition of Palestinian statehood at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Press TV reports.
It is expected that a vote on the subject next month will get the overwhelming support of EU legislators.
The lawmakers believe that the EU’s recognition of Palestine as a state would send out a clear message to Israel that killing Palestinians and illegally seizing land is unacceptable.
“Why should the European Parliament act? Because there is impatience in the continued settlement building [by Israel] and a despair at the continuing death toll,” said British MEP Richard Howitt said on Thursday.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who took part in the debate, called on Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct talks aimed at reaching a two-state solution.
“There is no way for having security if we do not also have a Palestinian state, there is no way of having a Palestinian state if we do
EU lawmakers have criticized Israel during a debate on the recognition of Palestinian statehood at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Press TV reports.
It is expected that a vote on the subject next month will get the overwhelming support of EU legislators.
The lawmakers believe that the EU’s recognition of Palestine as a state would send out a clear message to Israel that killing Palestinians and illegally seizing land is unacceptable.
“Why should the European Parliament act? Because there is impatience in the continued settlement building [by Israel] and a despair at the continuing death toll,” said British MEP Richard Howitt said on Thursday.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who took part in the debate, called on Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct talks aimed at reaching a two-state solution.
“There is no way for having security if we do not also have a Palestinian state, there is no way of having a Palestinian state if we do not guarantee security, stability and peace also to the Israelis,” Mogherini stressed.
Some members of the European Parliament criticized the EU for failing to act against Israel during its recent onslaught on Gaza that left more than 2,140 Palestinians dead.
The European Parliament has called on all EU member states to recognize the state of Palestine, underlining that this is absolutely in line with the decision taken by the United Nations General Assembly.
Last month, Sweden became the first major European country to officially recognize the state of Palestine, confirming the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Some European countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, are among 130 nations that have already recognized a Palestinian state.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East al-Quds (Jerusalem), and the besieged Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.
DB/NN/MHB