British parliament to hold symbolic vote on Palestine status

East Jerusalem

British lawmakers will next week hold a symbolic parliamentary vote on whether the government should recognize Palestine as a state, a move unlikely to shift official policy but designed to raise the political profile of the issue.

Britain does not class it as a state, but says it could do so at any time if it believed it would help the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.

The motion due for debate in Britain’s lower house of parliament on Oct. 13 will ask lawmakers whether they believe the government should recognize the state of Palestine.

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