Left-wing Israelis urge Spain to

recognize Palestine
Online petition says recognition of Palestinian state
will advance prospects for peace.
By Haaretz | Oct. 26, 2014 | 9:10 PM

Less than a week after it was reported that the Spanish parliament would vote
on recognizing Palestine as a state, left-wing Israelis launched an online
petition urging Spain to do just that.
The petition was initiated by former Foreign Ministry director-general Dr. Alon
Liel and Peace Now founders Amiram Goldblum and Naftali Raz. As of
Sunday, it had collected more than 300 signatures from Israeli professors and
academics, actors, artists and other left-leaning figures.
"We, citizens of Israel who wish it to be a safe and thriving country are worried
by the continued political stalemate and by the occupation and settlements
activities which lead to further confrontations with the Palestinians and
torpedo the chances for a compromise," the petition reads.
"It is clear that the prospects for Israel's security and existence depend on the
existence of a Palestinian state side by side with Israel," it goes on. "Israel
should recognize the state of Palestine and Palestine should recognize the
state of Israel, based on the June 4 1967 borders. Your initiative for
recognizing the state of Palestine will advance the prospects of peace and will
encourage Israelis and Palestinians to bring an end to their conflict."
The report that Spain's legislature would vote on recognizing a Palestinian
state came just days after British lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of
a non-binding resolution to recognize Palestine. It passed by a margin of 274
to 12.
The British vote called for recognition of the state of Palestine alongside the
state of Israel as part of a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state
solution.
Early this month, Sweden said it would be the first major member of the
European Union to recognize Palestine, drawing criticism from Israeli
government officials.