(BBC News) The House of Commons voted 274 to 12 on Monday in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state alongside Israel. The motion stated: "This House believes that the Government should recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution." Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he too wanted to see a two-state solution but added: "You do not recognize a state which has not yet got the fundamental ingredients that a state requires if it's going to carry out its international functions and therefore, at the very least, I would respectfully suggest this motion is premature." The government is not bound to do anything as a result of the vote.
2014-10-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive