Paris: Left-wing and centrist lawmakers in the French parliament on Wednesday succeeded in approving the establishment of the France-Palestine Friendship Group in the National Assembly after months of debate. According to Anadolu Agency, the decision allowing the formation of friendship groups in the National Assembly, which was supported by left-wing and centrist lawmakers after months of debate, has already sparked controversy, Le Journal du Dimanche reported. In France, parliamentary friendship groups are typically formed when a country has a recognized parliament, is a UN member state, and maintains diplomatic relations with France. Richard Ramos, a Democratic Movement (MoDem) MP and proponent of the initiative, defended the decision as a step toward "balance" in parliament. "It is unthinkable to have a friendship group with Israel without an equivalent for Palestine," he said, adding that the US Senate already has a similar structure in place. The move comes amid broader political tensions, with the leadership of both the new France-Palestine and the existing France-Israel groups yet to be determined. The presidency of these groups will be decided at a meeting scheduled for Nov. 25, when the France-Israel group, currently led by French President Macron's party, may face a challenge from the far-right National Rally.