104 members of the European Parliament from various political parties have urged the European Union and its member states to discourage the Palestinians from seeking UN recognition of an independent state in September at the United Nations.
In a letter to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the MEPs, who belong to the Conservative, Liberal, Socialist and Green political groups of the assembly, wrote: "A unilateral move will not bring reconciliation, it will not bring stability and it could destroy any chances of peace."
They said that Palestinians and Israelis can solved the issues "only by negotiations rather than by a declaration of independence."
"It is precisely because we believe in the justness of the Palestinian cause that we urge them to refrain from seeking a UN recognition of a unilaterally declared state, a counterproductive step we fear could set back the chances for peace," said the letter.
"The prospect of UN recognition also raises unrealistic expectations among Palestinians that they soon will have a sovereign state. But a UN vote will not change the reality on the ground and thus disappoint many Palestinians. Such disappointment has in the past often ignited new violence," the MEPs said.
Several of the 104 MEPs come from Italy, Holland, Poland , Romania, countries which are generally considered as friends of Israel, but also from France, Spain, Sweden and Britain.
The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the European Union with 736 members from the 27 EU member states.
EU leaders at a summit meeting last month already called on Israel and the Palestinians "to engage urgently in negotiations" and "to abstain from unilateral actions that are not conducive to a comprehensive solution," a reference to plans by the Palestinians to seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September.
"Only the resumption of direct negotiations could provide a realistic chance of improving the situation on the ground, thus leading to a lasting and comprehensive solution," they said in their final declaration.