Parliament's motion, filed jointly by the ruling centre-right majority and the opposition Socialist party, proposed "recognising, in coordination with the European Union, the state of Palestine as independent and sovereign."
However, Portugal's Foreign Minister Rui Machete said after the vote the government "will choose the moment best suited" to recognise the Palestinian state. But he said the government was "sensitive to parliament's call," that "Israelis and Palestinians live together on a long-term basis in a peaceful way."
Portuguese lawmakers who backed the measure believe "only talks can guarantee security and peace in the region."
Initiatives like Portugal's form part of a trend in Europe towards recognition. France's upper house voted Thursday to urge its government to recognise Palestine, hard on the heels of a similar motion in the Irish parliament.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2014.
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