Ms Natasha Hausdorff:

I will assist the Senator with the realities on the ground, which are that the Palestinians do have self-governance. They have self-determination in Areas A and B of the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and in Gaza under Hamas since Israel's withdrawal in 2005. If we note the consequences of that withdrawal, it has been the creation of a terror statelet and the necessary disastrous consequences in the past 21 months. I am sure that is not what members of the committee would wish on other areas, which are currently under Israeli administration in accordance with the international agreements that Mr. Shatter referenced, namely, the Oslo Accords. It is also significant that the key reason for the lack of a more prosperous Palestinian self-governance is the lack of a feasible working economy, which is something this Bill would do further damage to, as opposed to building the prospects of peaceful co-operation in the future. Again, these are the complete opposite consequences of what is plainly intended by the good intentions of those in this room.