This story claims that “the United States wants Abbas to make the concession as part of efforts to reach a ‘framework agreement’ and extend the talks aimed at settling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” But actually, the U.S. has now given in to the jihadists on this point, joining their demands that the tiny Jewish state accept a peace agreement that would be tantamount to suicide.
More on this story. “Arab League refuses to recognize Israel as Jewish state,” by Noah Browning and Ali Sawafta for Reuters, March 9:
The Arab League on Sunday endorsed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s rejection of Israel’s demand for recognition as a Jewish state, as U.S.-backed peace talks approach a deadline next month.
The United States wants Abbas to make the concession as part of efforts to reach a “framework agreement” and extend the talks aimed at settling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The council of the Arab League confirms its support for the Palestinian leadership in its effort to end the Israeli occupation over Palestinian lands, and emphasises its rejection of recognising Israel as a ‘Jewish state,'” Arab foreign ministers said in a statement in Cairo.
Arab governments, distracted by the upheaval convulsing the region since the 2011 Arab uprisings, have previously taken few stands on the floundering peace talks, leaving Abbas isolated.
Benjamin Netanyahu has been Israel’s first prime minister to make recognition of his country as a Jewish state a requirement for peace. The issue has lately overshadowed other stumbling blocks over borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
Palestinians fear the label would lead to discrimination against Israel’s sizeable Arab minority, while Israelis say it recognises Jewish history and rights on the land.
“In recognising the Jewish state you (Palestinians) would finally make clear that you are truly prepared to end the conflict,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday.
“So recognise the Jewish state, no excuses, no delays. It is time,” he said in a speech to the pro-Israel AIPAC lobby.
Abbas complained on Saturday that Palestinians were being asked for something that had not been demanded of Arab countries that have previously signed peace treaties with Israel.
“We recognised Israel in mutual recognition in the (1993) Oslo agreement – why do they now ask us to recognise the Jewishness of the state?” he asked.
“Why didn’t they present this demand to Jordan or Egypt when they signed a peace agreement with them?” Abbas added….
Those situations were different. It wasn’t wise for Israel to agree to peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt without recognition, but it wasn’t suicidal the way it would be with the “Palestinians,” who are dedicated according to the foundational charters of the PLO and Hamas to the destruction of Israel. Unless and until they renounce that imperative, how could there possibly be peace?