The Italian Chamber of Deputies voted Thursday rejected a request by left-wing opposition parties to recognise Palestine as a state.
The rejection came from right-wing parties with a majority in the lower chamber of parliament.
The Five Star Movement (M5S) submitted the resolution in May, and it was endorsed by further motions advocating for real actions towards Palestine’s recognition.
The resolutions took inspiration from Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s recent votes to recognise the State of Palestine, and urged the Italian government to follow suit.
Despite opposing efforts, the motions were lost by a right-wing majority.
In the aftermath, the governing parties successfully approved their own plan, which supports European Union measures and international attempts to recognise the State of Palestine within a negotiated framework of two independent and democratic countries.
The M5S criticised the vote by abstaining, accusing the governing parties of using “nice words” that did not correspond to their conduct in international situations.
During General Assembly debates, M5S Deputy Riccardo Riccardi voiced severe displeasure.
Israeli “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a criminal.” It is shameful to redefine the term ‘catastrophe’ as ‘crisis’ in a motion. What are the 39,000 deaths? What is the point of firing at people waiting for bread? “You don’t care about these people,” he said.
Peppe Provenzano of the major opposition Democratic Party (PD) decried the continuous war against Palestinians and raised alarm about the Italian government’s passivity, headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Provenzano emphasised the Palestinians’ claim to their own state.
Giangiacomo Calovini of the governing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party defended the denial, citing concerns about Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s unilateral recognition choices, stating that such steps without majority European Union permission undermine the union.
Similarly, Paolo Formentini of the far-right League party said that “recognising Palestine as a state would effectively reward (the Palestinian group) Hamas,” explaining their opposition to the resolutions.
( Source: AA)