The British parliament voted in favor of a symbolic move to recognize Palestine as an official state, answering impassioned pleas by pro-Palestinian ministers and activists.
The vote, which took place on Monday evening, saw 274 MPs come out in support of the motion, while 12 voted against.
"This House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution," the motion reads.
A number of politicians chose to abstain from the final vote, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Respect MP George Galloway.
While the motion passed with an overwhelming majority, it does not signify an official change in Britain’s position regarding the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The government may not officially recognize Palestine as a state, but Reuters notes that it can change that position if it feels doing so would be constructive to the peace process.
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