French Parliamentarians Call on President to Recognize State of Palestine

French President Francois Hollande has received a letter signed by 143 members of parliament demanding that France extend official recognition of the state of Palestine. The lawmakers were in part motivated by what they see as a Trump administration that will not push back against an Israeli government moving away from its commitment to a two-state solution. With Hollande’s term in office ending in May and right-wing parties showing growing strength, the signatures to the letter want Hollande to extend recognition to the Palestinian state as a final gesture consistent with his interest in brokering peace on the Israeli-Palestinian track of the multiple Middle East conflicts. The lawmakers also reminded Hollande that resolutions calling for recognition of a Palestinian state were passed in 2014.