Ireland's upper house of parliament has passed a motion calling on the Dublin government to recognise the state of Palestine in a symbolic move that is unlikely to change policy.
The vote is the latest boost for Palestinian authorities campaigning for international recognition, coming after a similar vote by the British House of Commons and Sweden's decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
The motion called on the "government to formally recognise the state of Palestine and do everything it can to help secure a viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that citizens of both states can live in peace and security".
It had cross-party support and passed without a vote.
Tabling the motion, opposition senator Averil Power said Ireland should "make it clear that statehood is a right of the Palestinian people and not a bargaining chip for the Israelis to play in further sham negotiations.
"In doing so, we will help increase pressure on Israel to pursue a genuine peace process that has a real prospect of delivering peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The Irish government is not bound to follow the motion, as it was initiated by an opposition politician in the upper house, which has little real power.
The debate follows the collapse of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and this year's conflict in Gaza in which more than 2000 Palestinians and dozens of Israelis were killed.
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