ALL OVER BUT THE CRYIN':

[T]he large number of parliaments that have voted in favor of recognition -- including in Britain, France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Luxembourg and the European Union -- is more than just a symbolic gesture.

While Europe cannot create a state where there is none, it could be argued that the mere fact that more and more countries want to recognize Palestine accords this entity a certain status approaching statehood.

The former chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friday that the Palestinians will submit their UN Security Council statehood resolution to a vote by Monday at latest. However it fares, the snowball of international recognition for "Palestine" is gathering pace.

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