In a symbolic and non-binding vote, the French parliament on Tuesday recognized Palestinian statehood.

Lawmakers voted 339 to 151 to urge the government to follow suit, the government-owned France 24 reported. Giving Palestine full recognition would serve "as an instrument to gain a definitive resolution of the conflict," they said.

"A very clear majority" of members of the National Assembly supported the motion by the Socialist Party, the network noted. French President François Hollande is a Socialist, though his prime minister, Manuel Valls, did not attend Tuesday's session.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, however, has said that France might recognize Palestine if diplomatic efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict continue to fail.

Hollande's predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, who recently returned to lead the center-right UMP, had voiced opposition and urged his fellow party members to vote against the Socialists' motion.

Voices representing Israel and the Palestinians were quick to comment on the vote.

"We wish to express our gratitude to the members of the French parliament for adopting a resolution on the side of justice and human dignity," said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior leader in the Palestine Liberation Organisation. "For peace to prevail, support for the two-state solution must be more than lip service."

Ashrawi further called on the French government to "to translate its parliament's vote into action."

The Israeli Embassy in Paris, meanwhile, warned the move would "reduce the possibility of achieving a deal between Israel and the Palestinians."

"Decisions of this nature harden the Palestinian position and send the wrong message to the people and the leaders of the region," the diplomatic mission added.

French lawmakers were following the example of their counterparts in Britain and Spain, who held similar votes in recent weeks.

Sweden, meanwhile, has joined scores of developing countries to fully recognize the Palestinian state.

Israel and the United States, meanwhile, maintain their position that successful negotiations should precede an independent Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that the votes in European parliaments have been a "big mistake for peace," according to the Jerusalem Post.

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