Recognition is part of a resolution that was voted through on Thursday in Strasbourg. The statement is, however, mainly political and sets no requirement for the member states to do as the parliament wants.
Sjöstedt is still satisfied.
– It is a significant sharpening of the EU Parliament's stance. One has not spoken of condemning Israel's policy in this way before. And it is particularly gratifying that one has expressed oneself in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state, he says to TT.
The resolution was adopted despite a heated struggle between different political wills in the parliament. In the end, there was still a surprisingly large majority behind the statement, above all after negotiations between the social democratic S&D and the Christian democratic conservative EPP.
”The resolution is indeed watered down... But the adoption, and the many demands that are included, are still important. Now it is high time for the member states and the commission to act”, writes Evin Incir (S) in a comment to TT.
In a non-binding resolution on Gaza that the EU Parliament adopted on Thursday, it is established, among other things, that the blockade of humanitarian aid causes famine in Gaza, that Israel's right to self-defense does not justify indiscriminate military interventions and that the EU's member states should consider recognizing Palestine as a state.
The resolution was voted through with 305 yes votes against 105 no votes. 122 members laid down their votes.
Among the Swedes, M, S, C, L, MP and V voted for, while KD and SD voted against.
