French MPs voted in favour of recognising a Palestinian state this week.

The parliamentary motion, which was passed by 339 votes to 151, was non-binding and will have no real diplomatic effect.

However, it echoes the symbolic votes by parliaments in the UK, Sweden, Spain and Ireland.

The motion was raised by President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and backed by the left-wing MPs, as well as some conservatives.

The text of the resolution stated that there was an "urgent necessity to reach a definitive resolution to the conflict".