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Irish parliamentarians on Wednesday urged their government to recognize the state of Palestine after a symbolic motion for the same passed in the parliament unopposed. This makes the Irish parliament the fourth European assembly to demand Palestinian statehood since October – Spanish, British and French lawmakers have all passed similar motions, indicating growing frustration with the peace process. Sweden has taken things a step further by officially recognizing a state of Palestine.
The non-binding resolution in Dublin calls on the Irish government to “officially recognize the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital, as established in U.N. resolutions”.
This will be “a further positive contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, it said.
The Irish government is not bound to officially recognize the state of Palestine, but according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, Ireland supports Palestinian statehood “in principle”.
“We have always supported a viable two-state solution and will continue to support that in any manner and by any means. It’s been suggested that recognition now might help jump-start a stalemate process. This was the judgement made by Sweden and indeed it is the spirit of this evening’s motion”, he said.
Opposition party Sinn Fein proposed the motion; its leader Gerry Adams, who was this past week not allowed by Israel to enter Gaza, said that the motion was meant to inspire hope.
“We must stand with the Palestinian and Israeli citizens who want peace – who are taking risks for peace. The passing of this motion is an important contribution to this”, he said.
The motion also urges the government to do everything it can internationally to secure “an inclusive and viable peace process”.
Martin O’Quigley, chairperson of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, welcomed the move.
“It’s very important, but just as important is for the Irish government to make Israel accountable for what has happened and what is happening in Palestine”, he said.
