Ms Hilary Minch:

I thank Deputy Mitchell. She is right on the issue of the viability of a one-state or two-state solution. However, it is important to remember that the recognition of Palestine as a state based on the 22% of the land is the right thing to do, but it strengthens the hand of the Palestinians for negotiations. It does not dictate what the final outcomes should be.

Many of the Palestinians and Israelis I have spoken to in recent months and over the years have mixed feelings at to whether they want to live in one state or two states. In some ways, it does not matter because what they want is equality and human rights in whatever state they are living in. Tonight's vote is not saying that this is going to be the final state of Palestine and that is Israel. That has yet to be decided. The important thing is for people to live with equality and human rights in whatever state.