(VOVworld) - French lawmakers voted 339 to 151 on Tuesday in favor of a resolution asking the French government to recognize the state of Palestine, the last resort for the conflict between Palestine and Israel. The vote was non-binding on the French government, which has the unique authority to officially recognize a state. But the resolution was a symbolic action echoing similar actions in other European countries who are trying to restart the stalled Middle East peace process.

Head of the Palestinian Mission in France, Hael Al Fahoum attends a debate on Palestine status at the National Assembly in Paris in 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

The resolution was introduced by the ruling Socialist party amid widespread disappointment with the Middle East deadlock. Similar resolutions were adopted in the UK and Spain, and Sweden voted to recognize Palestine as a state in late October.

The Israeli Ambassador to France said immediately after the vote that it will be detrimental to the peace process and sends the wrong message to the leaders and peoples of the region.