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Israel-Palestine
Arafat refugee climbdown stuns Palestinians
2004-06-18
In what appears to be a significant departure from the erstwhile Palestinian position, 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. The Israeli media featured Arafat’s statements prominently, viewing them as a “significant change” of position on the plight of the refugees, considered one of the most insurmountable issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The PA had always refused to or refrained from recognising Israel as a Jewish state for two reasons:
First, the PA leadership thought that lending such a recognition would seriously militate against the interests and future of Israel’s 1.2 million strong Palestinian community, which makes up one-fifth of Israel’s population.

Second, the PA understood all along that recognising Israel as a Jewish state would, in the final analysis, imply that the Palestinians were giving up on the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees who were expelled from their homes when Israel was created in 1948. That right is embodied in UN resolution 149 which stipulates repatriation and restitution for the refugees.
PA officials contacted by Aljazeera.net refused to comment on Arafat’s remarks, saying they did not think that Arafat meant what the Israeli newspaper quoted him as having said.
"We think he's off his meds. Luckily, nobody ever listens to him..."
One PA minister, who asked that his identity remain anonymous, pointed out that Arafat “doesn’t necessarily mean every word he says.”
"I mean, he's a congenital liar, isn't he? Y'said so yerselves!"
“The president says a lot of things he doesn’t mean. But in case he meant what he allegedly said, then it is a serious matter.”
"Maybe it is time he headed off for the nursing home..."
Another PA official said “we don’t take everything said or published by the Israeli press for granted.” Palestinian political leaders strongly denounced the idea of recognising Israel as a Jewish state. Ziad Abu Amr, professor of political science and former PA minister called Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state “the most stupid thing the Palestinians could do. The Palestinian people and the world at large are under no obligation to recognise the Jewish identity of Israel. Israel is a nation-state and has no extra rights and privileges.” Abu Amr argued that recognising Israel as a Jewish state would amount to agreeing, at least tacitly, that one-fifth of Israel’s population would have to accept an inferior status. “Who can tell the non-Jewish population of Israel that they must settle for an inherently inferior status vis-à-vis Jews and agree that they have lesser rights as citizens on no account other than being non-Jews.”
Posted by:Fred

#5  Don't listen to him. He is just baiting the hook so that he can resume relevance. Every word from his yap should be treated like a Syrian statement that they are now willing to engage in serious negotiations with Israel.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-06-19 12:45:58 AM  

#4  I love the smell of victory in the evening. This is too funny. (1) Palestinian officials spinning a big shift by the boss: "he lies, therefore don't take it seriously" (2) Palestinians (!!!!) try to throw water on the whole thing by implying Israeli media can't be taken as accurate -- you see Palestinians are real savvy about accurate, independent media (3) a Palestinian prof lectures the world on the finer points of equal citizenship in a democracy -- you see Palestinian academics are real savvy about such things, based on their own "national" history and accomplishments. It must be said that albeit unwittingly, Palestinians are about the funniest act going these days. With the Norks too crude and Baghdad Bob stripped of his pulpit, they've only got the Daily Show and the Onion for competition in the category of "political and current events satire."
Posted by: Verlaine   2004-06-18 11:37:44 PM  

#3  I thought my surprise meter was broken but it just pegged.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2004-06-18 9:30:02 PM  

#2  wow - I can only hope this is a death-bed conversion
Posted by: Frank G   2004-06-18 8:30:00 PM  

#1  Arafat said he “definitely” understood that Israel ought to “preserve her Jewish character” and that he personally recognised “Israel’s Jewish identity.”

Oh goody! Now some young buck in Hamas or the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade can off Arafat for apostasy. Israel's rather impressive restraint in this insanely provocative case may end up working out to their advantage.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-18 8:08:19 PM  

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