Palestinian Authority (PA) President Yasir Arafat has voiced his willingness to recognise Israel as a “Jewish state.”
The remarks were made in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz on Friday.
According to the paper, Arafat said he “definitely” understood that Israel ought to “preserve her Jewish character” and that he personally recognised “Israel’s Jewish identity.”
Furthermore, the Palestinian leader told the paper that the PLO had dropped an Arab summit resolution, calling for a just solution of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN General Assembly Resolution 194. [Right of return of Palestinians who were expelled from their homes when Israel was created at the end of WWII.]
Aljazeera article
The remarks were made in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz on Friday.
According to the paper, Arafat said he “definitely” understood that Israel ought to “preserve her Jewish character” and that he personally recognised “Israel’s Jewish identity.”
Furthermore, the Palestinian leader told the paper that the PLO had dropped an Arab summit resolution, calling for a just solution of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN General Assembly Resolution 194. [Right of return of Palestinians who were expelled from their homes when Israel was created at the end of WWII.]
Some are saying the paper must be misquoting Arafat. (Certainly this doesn't seem like Arafat based on his long held position to date.) Others are condemning the sentiments.
“So they (Israel) want us to recognise Israel as a Jewish state, not a state for all its citizens, and at the same time they are killing the very possibility of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
[Palestinian political activist and public leader Mustafa Barghouthi] denounced “any Palestinian leader” who might “tamper with the rights and interests of our brothers in Israel proper.”
“Nobody, not me, not you, nor anybody else, whoever he may be, has any right to compromise the rights of Palestinians in Israel."
[Palestinian political activist and public leader Mustafa Barghouthi] denounced “any Palestinian leader” who might “tamper with the rights and interests of our brothers in Israel proper.”
“Nobody, not me, not you, nor anybody else, whoever he may be, has any right to compromise the rights of Palestinians in Israel."
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