Italy Stops Short of Recognizing Palestine

Italian deputies on Friday approved two resolutions calling on the government to support the goal of a Palestinian state but, in a move welcomed by Israel, stopped short of supporting recognition now.

A motion in support of recognizing Palestine and another opposing any steps in that direction were voted down.

Israel welcomed the parliament's decision not to follow Britain, France and Spain, whose legislatures have all passed resolutions calling on their governments to recognize the Palestinian territories as a sovereign state.

"We positively welcome the Italian parliament choosing not to recognize a Palestinian state and opting to support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian on the basis of the principal of two states, as the right way to pursue peace," read a statement from Israel's embassy in Rome.