France's Senate has narrowly approved a resolution asking the government to recognize a Palestinian state, in hopes that could be a tool in negotiations for lasting Mideast peace.
Legislators and officials around Europe are increasingly pushing for two states, disappointed with stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
French senators voted 154-146 Thursday in favor of a non-binding resolution "inviting" the French government to recognize Palestine. The lower house of France's Parliament adopted a similar measure last week but by a much larger margin.