MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) - The House of Commons backed a symbolic motion on Monday to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state alongside Israel.
Some 274 MPs voted in favor and 12 voted against the motion, which said that "this House believes that the Government should recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel."
According to Labour Party MP Grahame Morris, who initiated the debate, the vote is a "small but symbolically important step". The motion is non-binding and cannot alter the UK government's official stance on the issue.
Earlier on Monday, a representative of the British Prime Minister's Office stated that Prime Minister David Cameron and members of the UK cabinet would not support the motion, and that the country's policy towards Palestine autonomy is not to change.
Former foreign secretary William Hague stated in 2011 that the United Kingdom "reserves the right to recognize a Palestinian state bilaterally at a moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace".
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly upgraded Palestine from a "non-member observer entity" to a "non-member observer state" and affirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
By September 2013, the Palestinian State was recognized by 134 UN member states, including Russia. However, several European Union members and the United States have not given their official recognition. Some EU members such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia recognized the Palestinian State before joining the bloc.
