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Call to see Israel as Jewish state
Source: Agencies |
September 13, 2010, Monday
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DAYS ahead of a crucial peacemaking session, Israel's prime minister touched a raw nerve with the Palestinians yesterday by demanding they recognize Israel as a Jewish state - something they have long rejected.
Benjamin Netanyahu said such recognition must be the foundation for peace.
"The foundation of the state of Israel is that it is the nation-state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said at the start of the Israeli Cabinet's weekly meeting. "That is the real basis of the end of demands from the state of Israel and the end of the conflict between the two peoples."
Netanyahu has made recognition of Israel's Jewish character a central demand, suggesting the Palestinians' failure to do so means they have not come to terms with Israel's existence.
Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Israel was using this demand as to withhold full rights from Palestinian citizens of Israel and to deny the right of return to Palestinian refugees.
Israel's Arab minority, who make up 20 percent of the population, enjoy full citizenship rights but have suffered from discrimination in jobs and housing.
"We don't deny there is a majority of Jews in Israel," Shaath said. "But we deny their requirement we recognize that Jewishness when there are a million and a half Palestinian Christians and Muslims who are citizens of Israel today."
Benjamin Netanyahu said such recognition must be the foundation for peace.
"The foundation of the state of Israel is that it is the nation-state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said at the start of the Israeli Cabinet's weekly meeting. "That is the real basis of the end of demands from the state of Israel and the end of the conflict between the two peoples."
Netanyahu has made recognition of Israel's Jewish character a central demand, suggesting the Palestinians' failure to do so means they have not come to terms with Israel's existence.
Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Israel was using this demand as to withhold full rights from Palestinian citizens of Israel and to deny the right of return to Palestinian refugees.
Israel's Arab minority, who make up 20 percent of the population, enjoy full citizenship rights but have suffered from discrimination in jobs and housing.
"We don't deny there is a majority of Jews in Israel," Shaath said. "But we deny their requirement we recognize that Jewishness when there are a million and a half Palestinian Christians and Muslims who are citizens of Israel today."
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