European Parliament votes to recognise Palestine state 'in principle'

The European Parliament has voted to recognise the state of Palestine "in principle", it has been announced.

The motion passed on Wednesday (17 December) represented a compromise among the European Parliament's main parties.

It read: "[We] support in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution, and believes these should go hand in hand with the development of peace talks, which should be advanced."

Social democrats, left-wing and Green members of the European Parliament put forward the motions for a symbolic vote – calling on the EU's 28 member states to recognise Palestinian statehood without conditions.

However the centre-right European People's Party, the Parliament's largest group, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe said recognition should only form part of a negotiated agreement with Israel.

It comes after Sweden's decision in October to recognise Palestine and is supported by non-binding votes in parliaments in Britain, France, Ireland and Spain.