What Palestinians can expect from Europe / Spain’s Congress votes in favour of recognising Palestinian state

As European publics became more sympathetic to Palestine, the Palestinian leadership needed to renew its advocacy.

Following Sweden's recognition of the state of Palestine in October 2014, there were signs in other EU Member States of moves or campaigns in the same direction including France, Spain and Croatia.

EUObserver and El País reported on the 18 November 2014 that the Spanish Congress had backed a non-binding motion to recognise Palestine on that day, and that the National Assembly in France prepared for a similar move the following week. Parliaments in the United Kingdom and Ireland had also voted along these lines in October 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Sweden breaks EU ranks to recognise Palestine http://www.europeansources.info/record/sweden-breaks-eu-ranks-to-recognise-palestine/

EEAS: EU Around the Globe: Countries: Palestine http://eeas.europa.eu/palestine/index_en.htm

EUObserver [Opinion], 23.10.14: EU states should follow Sweden on Palestine http://euobserver.com/opinion/126195

EUObserver, 23.10.14: Irish senators build EU momentum on Palestine recognition http://euobserver.com/foreign/126207

World Bulletin, 24.10.14: Croatia likely to recognize Palestine, FM says http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/146985/croatia-likely-to-recognize-palestine-fm-says

World Bulletin: Tag: Palestinian recognition http://www.worldbulletin.net/tag/4898/palestinian-recognition

ESO: Background information: Twelve EU countries likely to back Palestine's UN bid http://www.europeansources.info/record/twelve-eu-countries-likely-to-back-palestines-un-bid/

EUObserver, 14.10.14: British MPs vote to recognise Palestine in symbolic move http://euobserver.com/foreign/126051

France24, 14.10.14: France to recognise Palestinian state 'when time is right' http://www.france24.com/en/20141014-palestinian-state-recognition-must-be-helpful-peace-france-fabius/

UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Library: Standard notes SN06992 (first published 03.10.14): International status of Palestine http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn06992/international-status-of-palestine

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 16.10.14: When is symbolism enough? The UK House of Commons vote to recognise the state of Palestine https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/antony-lerman/when-is-symbolism-enough-uk-house-of-commons-vote-to-recognise-stat

EUObserver, 04.11.14: Spanish MPs to vote on Palestine recognition http://euobserver.com/foreign/126368

openDemocracy, 06.11.14: Palestine's statehood options: a dialogue https://www.opendemocracy.net/arab-awakening/victor-kattan-michael-kearney/palestine%27s-statehood-options-dialogue

EUObserver, 18.11.14: Spanish MPs build EU support for Palestine recognition http://euobserver.com/foreign/126570

El País, 18.11.14: Spain’s Congress votes in favor of recognizing Palestinian state http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/11/18/inenglish/1416315386_281770.html

EurActiv, 18.11.14: Spanish parliament to call for recognising Palestine state http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/spanish-parliament-call-recognising-palestine-state-310109

Deutsche Welle, 19.11.14: Israel: Spanish vote on Palestine unhelpful http://dw.de/p/1DpzN

Euronews, 19.11.14: Israel vexed at Spain’s move to recognise Palestinian state http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/19/israel-vexed-at-spain-s-move-to-recognise-palestinian-state/

France24, 24.11.14: Netanyahu warns France ahead of Palestinian state vote http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-palestine-netanyahu-state-recognise/

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