Ramallah/Gaza, Dec 11 (IANS): The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Hamas movement Thursday welcomed the Irish parliament's recognition of a Palestinian state.

The PNA foreign affairs ministry said in a statement that the overwhelming vote of the Irish parliament in favour of a Palestinian state reflects the harmony of Irish parties, which support the just Palestinian cause, Xinhua reported.

Earlier Wednesday, the Irish parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of establishing a Palestinian state on the territories that Israel occupied in 1967. The vote also called on the Irish government to follow the parliament's steps.

Before the Irish parliament, the parliaments of Britain, Spain and France also recognised the establishment of a Palestinian state, however, their governments did not do the same, which keeps the recognition symbolic.

Sweden as a government and a parliament is the only European country which recognised the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) member, said in a statement that the recognition of a Palestinian state "is non-debatable legitimate right and not linked to any negotiations or to its outcomes".

"The European parliaments' recognition of a Palestinian state interprets the growing outrage of the Europeans toward Israel's policy and behaviour as well as the Israeli violations of the international law," said Ashrawi.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Hamas movement's spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in an emailed press statement that the Irish parliament's recognition "is an important step forward".

"This recognition is a positive international and political development and in favour of the just Palestinian cause and support the Palestinian people to gain their legitimate rights back," said Barhoum.