Chamber of Deputies asks government to recognize Palestinian State

SANTIAGO.- With 40 votes in favor and 1 abstention, the Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill of agreement to ask President Michelle Bachelet to recognize the State of Palestine and upgrade the diplomatic mission in the country from a consulate to an embassy.

The bill –which is only designed as a proposal that is non-binding- draws attention to the fact that there is an Arab colony of some 400 thousand people in Chile, the majority of which are of Palestinian origin.

The document points out the fact that "Chile has taken in 117 Palestinian refugees that have become part of our society, adopting the national values and culture and enriching the nation with their own customs".

The bill adds that the "Palestinian State" has already been recognized by approximately one hundred countries, which include diverse nations such as Austria, Cuba, China, the Czech Republic, Russia and the Vatican.

"Chile must acknowledge the present-day holocaust, the Palestinian holocaust, which is taking place right now at this moment", stated Deputy Eugenio Tuma (PPD), who is one of the supporters of the initiative.