The House of Commons has overwhelmingly backed a call for the British government to recognise Palestine as a state. After a six hour debate, the House voted by 274 votes to 12 for a motion to recognise Palestine, a majority 262. The motion says: "This House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution." It was proposed by Labour MP Grahame Morris, who argued it was important that Parliament debates the issue and reflects the public interest in the long standing Middle East conflict. The Labour shadow cabinet backed the move. Government ministers abstained. However, the result is not binding on the government. During the debate, Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood said his country reserved the right to recognise Palestine when it is "appropriate for the peace process." The UN General Assembly voted in 2012 to upgrade the Palestine's status to that of "non-member observer state." The assembly voted 138 to nine in favour, with 41 nations – including the UK – abstaining. Mr Morris told MPs recognising Palestine as a state would be a "symbolically important" step towards peace, saying relations between Israelis and Palestinians were "stuck at an impasse." The original motion says: “This House believes that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel." However, the MPs approved an amendment propose by former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, adding that such recognition will be “a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution." http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/113031.aspx
