Rabat - Ireland's lower house of Parliament has unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to formally recognize the state of Palestine.
The measure passed late Tuesday calls for a state of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
Ireland's Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan told the Associated Press that his government is considering recognition of Palestinian statehood as a possible tactic for kick-starting Middle East peace talks.
However, Israel has criticized the decision by the Irish Government to accept a motion recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, warning that such moves only hinder peace prospects.
“Such resolutions are not helpful. They do not contribute to Palestinians returning to the negotiating table: on the contrary, they give the Palestinians the illusory feeling that via a unilateral strategy and parliamentary resolutions they can obtain their political aspirations,” Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emanuel Nachshon was quoted by the Irish Times as saying.
Spain, France and Britain recently passed similar nonbinding motions. Sweden has also announced it would recognize a Palestinian state.