Labour MP Grahame Morris is pushing for sanctions against Israel. Photo: Twitter

As French parliamentarians geared up for today’s National Assembly vote in favor of a Palestinian state, their counterparts across the English Channel were busily debating the desirability of economic sanctions against the State of Israel.

During a three hour session in the House of Commons – which voted overwhelmingly in favor of a Palestinian state on October 13 – British MPs repeatedly attacked Israel and compared the Jewish state to the former apartheid regime in South Africa.

The session was led by Labour MP Grahame Morris, who secured October’s historic Commons vote which called on the government to recognize Palestinian statehood, the Jewish Chronicle reported.

Sir Alan Duncan, who launched a blistering attack on the Israeli government’s settler policy in October, said responses to his comments had shown him “the Jewish voice in the UK has changed significantly in favor of a Palestinian state”.

George Galloway, an MP from the far left Respect Party and a committed supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah, said the situation in Jerusalem was turning to crisis and would overshadow the “erupting sore” of Gaza.

Former Middle East Minister Alistair Burt called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to meet and “physically stand together and say ‘no more'” in order to stop the spiral of violence. He said it was a time for “bravery and courage” from the men.

He said Israel needed to realize the “reality” of the fall-out from the conflict in Gaza in the summer and acknowledge the changing view of world opinion.

His fellow Conservative MPs Robert Halfon and Matthew Offord were among those who defended Israel.