The European Parliament has approved a resolution backing the recent Palestinian bid for UN recognition of their statehood.

However, although agreeing that the bid was “legitimate’, MEPs said they preferred negotiations to establish a lasting solution.

“The right of Palestinians to self-determination and to have their own state is unquestionable, as is the right of Israel to exist within safe borders,” the resolution, approved by show of hands, states.

Insisting it was time for the never-ending conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to end, MEPs said the issue about the UN’s recognition should be resolved within a year.

The EU has so far steered clear of declaring its support for the Palestinian bid as its member states are divided.

Malta is in the pro-Palestinian group of member states, together with France, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Portugal, although officially it has not declared its position. On the other hand, other member states, including Germany, Italy and the UK are taking up the stance of the US and oppose the bid.

The EP’s resolution, aimed at piling pressure on member states to pronounce themselves with a common voice, calls on EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and member states to find a common position on the Palestinian request and to avoid divisions.

The EP also reiterated its strong support for the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as capital of both states, and stresses that direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians should resume without delay.

The resolution underlines that “no changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties should be accepted”.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, acting in his capacity as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, formally submitted the membership bid to the UN last week.

The US has threatened to veto the move if it wins backing from nine of the UN Security Council’s 15 members.

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