Arab League refuses to recognize Israel as Jewish state
Endorsing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's postion, the Arab League on Sunday rejected the concept of Israel as 'Jewish State.' The US is asking Abbas to concede this point as part of a framework agreement to extend Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Arab Foreign Ministers meet at the Arab League building in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday. Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby has urged Arab countries to take a 'firm stand' against Israel鈥檚 demand that the Palestinians recognize it as a Jewish state, calling it a deviation from agreed-upon framework for talks.
Ahmed Gomaa/AP
Cairo
罢丑别听听on Sunday endorsed Palestinian President听's rejection of听's demand for recognition as a Jewish state, as U.S.-backed peace talks approach a deadline next month.
罢丑别听听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听听confirms its support for the Palestinian leadership in its effort to end the Israeli occupation over Palestinian lands, and emphasises its rejection of recognising听听as a 'Jewish state,'"听Arab听foreign ministers said in a statement in听.
Arab听governments, distracted by the upheaval convulsing the region since the 2011听Arab听uprisings, have previously taken few stands on the floundering peace talks, leaving Abbas isolated.
听has been听'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听.
Palestinians fear the label would lead to discrimination against听's sizeable听Arab听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-听AIPAC lobby.
Abbas complained on Saturday that Palestinians were being asked for something that had not been demanded of听Arab听countries that have previously signed peace treaties with听.
"We recognised听听in mutual recognition in the (1993)听听agreement - why do they now ask us to recognise the Jewishness of the state?" he asked.
"Why didn't they present this demand to听听or听听when they signed a peace agreement with them?" Abbas added.
罢丑别听听is hoping to get the two sides to agree on some general points, including the "Jewish state" issue and a rough understanding on borders, as part of what it calls a framework deal that could lead to the prolongation of the talks, which have achieved little since they began seven months ago.
听captured听, the听听and East听听in the 1967 war. Palestinians seek the land for their future state, and want Israeli soldiers and over half a million settlers gone.