Dundee, the Scottish city twinned with Nablus, has officially recognised Palestine as a state

Noting that Dundee would be the first Scottish city to make such a move, Zomlot added that while local recognition is "symbolic... historic and brave".

The Dundee Nablus Twinning Association and Mike Arnott from the Dundee Trades Union Council also addressed the meeting.

Arnott hailed the 1980 twinning of Nablus and Dundee amid staunch objections from Whitehall as "historic".

He listed some of the achievements of the cooperation, including Nablus nurses who came to the Scottish city to study and a pair of prosthetic legs offered to Bassam Shakaa, the Palestinian city's mayor who lost his legs to a car bomb.

Speaking in support of the proposal, Zomlot said, "40 years ago Dundee blazed a trail, it did so in the face of fierce opposition.

"[Recognising Palestine] would, I hope, send a clear message to the central government here in the UK that it is high time to end of the world's longest-standing injustices".

The leader of the council, John Alexander, expressed his regret at not having the support of all members.

Three Conservative councillors opposed the proposal and supported an amendment saying the UK Government should decide the timing of such matters.

The motion ultimately passed 23 to three despite the Tory opposition and was met with an appreciative tweet from the Palestinian Mission to the UK.

"Thank you Dundee. Thank you #Scotland," the message said.

According to a press release issued by the Mission, Zomlot said the Dundee decision demonstrated that "[the Palestinian people] are supported everywhere".

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