Professor S. Michael Lynk:

Recognition of the state of Palestine is politically important. While it has a symbolic measure, it would end up building on the tally of the approximately 135 states that have recognised the state of Palestine, that is, something like two thirds of the membership of the General Assembly, although very few are European states. In fact, the only one I am aware of is Sweden. I spoke to a Swedish diplomat who said Sweden had been told that if it went ahead first, it would crack the ice and other states would follow, but Sweden is still looking back for others to end up following. Recognising the state of Palestine would, of course, be another important political statement with respect to the absolute necessity, insisted on by the world community, of ending this prolonged occupation. Doing so should, therefore, form part of the foreign policy of any country that recognises what is going on in Israel and Palestine.

As for publishing the advice of the Attorney General, my advice, however simplistic, is that one way out of the stalemate could involve putting the issue before a respected, agreed-on legal decision maker. That would require everybody to put forward their best legal arguments, including what the advice of the Attorney General has been. Democracy breathes in sunshine, and this is one kind of issue on which we would want to see the Government putting forward its best argument. While I have been getting my crash course in Irish politics this week, I have not encountered anybody who opposes the self-determination of the Palestinians, or who denies the harsh realities of the occupation or the fact this has become a one-state reality of unequal rights. Nobody I have come across, among either Senators or Deputies, seems to disagree with that. Accordingly, this reluctance strikes me as more of an unnecessary barrier to advancing even further with respect to an enlightened policy that will hasten the end of the occupation and the realisation of self-determination. Releasing the opinion of the Attorney General, if I can speak out of turn, would make perfect sense in order that the best arguments on each side can be properly evaluated.

The Senator asked about the special committee against apartheid. He might remind me of the question.