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Today, in the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, all parties in the Greek parliament unanimously approved the decision of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy and defence that urges the Greek government to trigger all the necessary procedures for the recognition of the State of Palestine.

Upon entering the parliamentary hall, the President of the Palestinian National Authority shook hands with former Prime Minister George Papandreou and lawmakers greeted him with sustained applause.

In his report, parliament speaker Nikos Voutsis presented the project of the permanent parliamentary commission, with which it recognizes the coexistence of two states and of one united, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state based on the borders in 1967.

The decision refers to the firm commitment to peace and security in the Middle East, based on the UN resolution of 29 November 2012 that recognized Palestine as an observer state and that was approved by many EU parliaments. The decision also takes into account the resolution of 2014 that established with concern the termination of the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and the escalation of tensions due to the continuation of the settlement policy of Israel, emphasizing the need for peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians within mutual recognized states.

Parliament speaker Nikos Voutsis also called on the Greek government "to make every effort to renew the peace talks", stressing that the international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state will contribute to peace in the region.

Currently, Mahmoud Abbas is delivering a speech in the plenary hall during a special meeting, chaired by first deputy chairman of the national assembly Anastasios Kourakis.