French parliamentarians voiced their opinion in a symbolic vote for their government to recognize Palestine. The vote took place on Tuesday but the move will not take effect immediately nor will it affect France’s diplomatic stance. The vote does however, demonstrate a growing European impatience with the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

The French motion received the support of 339 lawmakers while 51 voted against officially recognizing Palestine.

Most Western European nations still support the Israeli and U.S. position that a future Palestinian state can only emerge through direct negotiations with Israel. Many other developing countries have already recognized Palestine as a state.

Just over one month ago, Sweden became the first EU nation to vote for the recognition of Palestine.

EU countries have grown restless and are frustrated with Israel whom they see as the problematic partner to peace with the Palestinians.  They view Israel as having pressed on with building settlements in territory that the Palestinians want for their state including Jerusalem.

Other parliaments such as in Spain, Britain and Ireland have held votes in which they voted in favour of backing a non-binding resolution in favor of the recognition of Palestine.

The French text was proposed by the ruling Socialists and was backed by left-wing parties and some conservatives. The text called upon the French government to “use the recognition of a Palestinian state with the aim of resolving the conflict definitively”.

The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius were not present during the vote. The government has said it will not be bound by the result of the vote.

“We don’t want a symbolic recognition that will only lead to a virtual state,” European Minister Harlem Desir said in reaction to the vote. “We want a Palestinian state that is real so we want to give a chance to negotiations.”

Palestinians have made it very clear in recent months that they believe negotiations with Israel have failed.  They claim that they have no choice but to pursue independence unilaterally.

“Israel believes that the vote … will only jeopardize the possibility of reaching an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said.

“Such decisions only toughen the Palestinian positions and send a wrong message to the leaders and peoples of the region.”

France currently has the largest population of both Jews and Muslims in Europe. Often when tensions are running high in Israel surrounding waves of terror attacks and unrest, tensions run high in France as well.

Not all sides in the French parliament agree that this vote was the correct choice. Some right wing parliamentarians criticized the Socialist majority for backing Palestinian recognition to win back support from Muslim voters. The Muslim voters were alienated a few weeks ago when a gay marriage law was passed. They were also discontented when President Francois Hollande apparently supported Israel’s intervention in Gaza.

“It will add fuel to the fire in a region that doesn’t need that at all,” said Christian Jacob, leader of the conservative UMP party in parliament.