Ms Hilary Minch:

I remind the committee that in 1980, when the Bahrain declaration was made, Ireland became the first European state to declare that the Palestinian people had a right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. Who are we to deny someone else's right to self-determination? A very important point to remember is this is what Palestinians are asking for. They are also asking for their freedom and an end to the occupation. In a statement the Palestinian Christian leaders said:

send our urgent message to the whole world and particularly to Europe: We are yearning for justice and peace. Recognizing Palestine and defining Israel’s borders is a first step towards that goal....We believe that recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border is the first step towards changing the current status quo. Banning settlement products and divesting from companies and organizations linked directly or indirectly to the Israeli occupation is also a must. 66 years after the beginning of the Palestinian Nakba and 47 years after the occupation, it is time for the State of Palestine to be free and become a full member of the United Nations. That is why we call upon European governments to fully endorse the just Palestinian quest for freedom and independence.