Anyone care to discuss the actual issue? Recognition of Palestine as a state in this present year, 2011.

Since this is evidently the wish of a large majority of people living there, and of a large majority of countries at the UN, there would need to be some pretty good reasons for this not to happen.

Any suggestions as to what these "pretty good reasons" would be?

There is of course the argument that such recognition would mean accepting the continuing partition of what might be called Palestine, Greater Israel or the Holy Land. Supporters of Hamas and of the settlers might share this view, along with those who would prefer to see a united non-sectarian state throughout the whole territory. However it is hard to sustain this as realistic in the light of present circumstances.