(JTA) — Spain will recognize a Palestinian state only if it is born out of peace talks with Israel, the country’s ruling party said.
The statement Tuesday by Alfonso Alonso, the spokesman of the Popular Party’s faction in the Congress of Deputies, was issued hours ahead of a vote on a nonbinding draft motion favoring immediate recognition that was filed last month by the Socialist Workers’ Party.
The same day, two Palestinian terrorists killed four people during morning services at a Jerusalem synagogue.
“We consider that taking unilateral steps does not help movement down the path of peace,” Alonso said in a statement. “We do not intend to recognize a Palestinian state unless it is obtained through negotiations that take into account both parties’ positions.”
The Popular Party has 185 seats out of 350 in the Spanish Congress. The Socialist Workers is the second largest party with 110 seats.
The Spanish draft motion follows the adoption last month of a similar nonbinding motion in Britain’s House of Commons and in Ireland’s upper house. Also last month, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said his country would recognize Palestine. Another draft motion was submitted to France’s lower house for a vote later this month.
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