The adoption of a European Parliament resolution calling on member states to recognize the state of Palestine has been welcomed by the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) – despite the text’s shortcomings. “We supported this joint resolution on the recognition of the Palestinian state as a principled step in the right direction,” said MK Muhammad Barakeh, chairman of Hadash and a leading member of the CPI. “This is a huge step forward for the global struggle against Israeli’s occupation and the oppression of the Palestinian people,” he added.

GUE/NGL Group in the European Parliament: Demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people during a plenary session in Strasbourg, July 2014. (Photo: European Union)

MK Barakeh continued: “Recognition of a Palestinian state, its people and its borders, and the end of the occupation is a long-overdue international obligation and a positive step towards peace. Member states must now formally recognize a sustainable Palestinian state being established contiguous with the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, demanding the end of the settlements policy and a just resolution of the Palestinian refugee question.”