European Union Delays Vote on Resolution Recognizing State of Palestine

Recognition — symbolic or otherwise — of the state of Palestine by the European Union will wait another month after bickering over language of the resolution caused its sponsors to postpone the vote until December 18 even though the debate is proceeding. The left-wing parties that proposed the measure argue that it promotes peace between the Palestinians and Israel while a center-right party representing a majority in the EU insists that recognition be declared only after a negotiated agreement between the parties is reached. The recent decision by Spain follows the same formula. Israel claims the spate of recognition resolutions is encouraging the Palestinians to harden their positions making it even more difficult to reach an agreement.