re: #37 Ericus58

Here’s a Jerusalem Post article that has some more info on the interview Abbas gave to Al-Quds newspaper yesterday:

jpost.com

Abbas said that in recent meetings with leaders of the Jewish community in the US, he made it clear that the Palestinians would not recognize Israel as a Jewish state. “I told them that this is their business and that they are free to call themselves whatever they want,” Abbas said. “But [I told them] you can’t expect us to accept this.”

Abbas said that by raising the issue of Israel’s right to be a Jewish state, Netanyahu was seeking to “strip” Israeli-Arabs of their rights and turn them into illegal citizens. He said that Netanyahu’s goal was also to block any chance of Palestinian “refugees” from returning to their original homes inside Israel.

This is a point where both sides are going to have to give some ground for any hope for a lasting agreement.

Abbas, and by extension, Palestine is going to have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state - it is a central point to Israel’s existence. Also, he will have to accept that there are certain instances (specifically in cases of security concerns, or logistically impossible) where the Palestinian refugees are not going to be able to return to their original homes.
Netanyahu, on the other hand will have to put in place assurances that the Israeli-Arabs maintain full rights in Israel, and that, where possible, Palestinians removed from their homes by settlements are allowed to return.