Greece's parliament has passed a resolution calling on the government to formally recognise the state of Palestine.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas attended the parliamentary vote, which was unanimous.
Will Mumford reports.
It was a historic day in Greece's parliament as speaker Nikos Voutsis called on his colleagues for an important vote.
(Translated) "The Greek parliament pledges to promote all the necessary procedures to recognise the state of Palestine and to make every diplomatic effort for the immediate resumption of credible, peace talks between the two sides. Ladies and gentlemen, all those accepting the proposal, please rise."
The proposal to recognise Palestinian sovereignty and independence received unanimous support from the parliament.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas attended the vote and encouraged other countries yet to formally recognise his country to do so.
(Translated)"We call on countries to support a two-state solution on the Palestinian issue. We call on countries that have not recognised the state of Palestine to do so now, to proceed to the recognition now."
However, the parliamentary resolution is non-binding and simply means the parliament has called on the Greek government to formally recognise Palestine as a state.
Palestinian National Liberation Movement senior official Nabil Shaath has told Al Jazeera television, while the move is symbolic, it also sends an international message.
"When you're talking about 140 countries who have done so, the wave of recognition that came from Europe and Latin America between the years 2010 and 2014 had waned and stopped, and now it's revived again. This cumulative process brings in international support and legal consequences."
Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras would not declare when the Greek government might adopt the resolution.
He says his government will move on the issue "when the time is right."
(Translated) "We must underline the imperative need to begin a substantial, a credible peace process but with a clear political target, a process that will give again hope to the Palestinian people, but also to the Israeli people, for a better future, for a peaceful coexistence of two peoples in the same region."
People on the streets of Greece appeared to largely support the move, as this woman did.
"I am in favour, but I'm also in favour of keeping the diplomatic relations with Israel as well. If it is possible to maintain stability there, well, only God knows, yes, but I'm in favour."
