Middle East News
EU parliament backs Palestinian state, calls for talks with Israel
Sep 29, 2011, 11:57 GMT
Strasbourg, France - The European Parliament on Thursday threw its support behind the Palestinians' 'legitimate' UN bid for statehood, while also arguing that the United Nations move should go hand-in-hand with direct talks with Israel.
'To be effective, the establishment of a viable Palestinian state must be the outcome of a mutual and comprehensive peace agreement,' the legislature's president, Jerzy Buzek, said.
The non-binding resolution passed by the parliament during its plenary in Strasbourg, France, argued that both Israel and the Palestinians have rights - to security and self-determination, respectively.
Legislators also urged the European Union's member states to find a common position on the matter. The EU had attempted to stop Palestinian leaders from going before the UN, fearing that it would split the bloc along ideological lines.
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