Mahmoud Abbas: "A Jewish state, what is that supposed to mean?"

Recognizing Israel as a Jewish state poses temporal and religious problems for Abbas & Co.: Acknowledging and accepting Israel's Jewish identity disqualifies Muslims' future claims on the land for negotiation, armed conflict, the claim to a "right of return," and so forth. Doing so would also acknowledge the historical identity of the region as a Jewish homeland (as opposed to the revisionist story of the allegedly "uncorrupted" followers of a proto-Muslim Abraham). Lastly, it accepts something other than Islamic law as legitimate, which is out of step with the fundamental reason for waging jihad: Imposing Islamic dominion and law.

Ramallah, 27 April (AKI) - Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Monday dismissed calls by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. He also said a halt to Israel's continuing expansion of illegal Jewish settlements inside the West Bank was a prerequisite for resuming peace talks.

"A Jewish state, what is that supposed to mean?," said Abbas, quoted by Israeli media. "You can call yourselves as you like, but I don't accept it and I say so publicly."

He also said it was not his job to define or name the Israeli state.

"Name yourself, it's not my business. Name yourself the Hebrew Socialist Republic. All I know is that there is the state of Israel, in the borders of 1967, not one centimetre more, not one centimetre less. Anything else, I do not accept."

Many observers believe the so called 'green line' – the pre-1967 Six-Day War ceasefire line between Israel and Jordan – should be the basis for an international border between Israel and the West Bank in the creation of a future Palestinian state.

Israeli daily Haaretz said last week that Netanyahu wanted to impose the precondition of recognition of Israel as a Jewish state in order to resume peace negotiations.

However, it is believed such recognition would block the Palestinians demand for the "right of return" of millions of refugees who fled or were expelled by Jewish forces, during the establishment of Israel in 1948 and subsequent wars. The refugees are now scattered throughout the Middle East.

Israel's hardline foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said last Thursday that the right of return is not up for discussion....

No right of return. In fact, the Jews need to expel every arab from all of Israel, Gaza, Judea, Sumaria, and the Golan.