BELGIAN PARLIAMENT JOINS CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD

Brussels, 17 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/7 February 2015 (MINA) – The Belgian parliament approved a resolution late on Thursday calling for the recognition of Palestine as a state, the Belga news agency reported.

Belgium is the latest European country to tackle the question, as pressure grows on Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.

The resolution, put forward by the liberal party of Prime Minister Charles Michel and three other parties in the ruling coalition, calls on the government to recognise Palestinian statehood “at the most appropriate moment,” Belga reported, Gulfnews quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The government should take into account the possible impact on negotiations between Israel and Palestine; consultations within the European Union; and the establishment of a Palestinian government in control of the entire territory, the resolution said.

Parliaments in Britain, Spain, France, Ireland and Portugal have also symbolically backed statehood for Palestine, while the government in Sweden has officially recognised the state. The European Parliament also gave its support to Palestinian statehood in December.

So far, 135 countries have recognised the sovereignty of the Palestinian Territories. (T/P009/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)