Arab leaders explain why they are opposed to recognizing Israel as 'Jewish State'

Ma'an
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will not compromise on his refusal to recognize Israel as a "Jewish state," he said in a recent interview.

..."Don't you have Arab citizens in Israel?" the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted him as asking on Friday, referring to the country's Muslims and Christians, who make up just over 20 percent of Israel's population.

"You want to turn Israel into a Jewish state only? That's very bad. I'm telling you, it's a serious mistake which will harm you," the Egyptian leader went on to say.

Palestinians who remained in the land that became the state of Israel in 1948 were eventually granted citizenship and the right to vote, although they have complained for decades of state discrimination.

...The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization, both bound by a constitution that references "the land of the three monotheistic faiths," have rejected such recognition, saying it would prejudice the rights of Israel's Palestinian minority.

...Other leaders have noted that their rejection of defining Israel as a "Jewish state" stems from concern over minority rights, rather than an opposition to the Jewish religion. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad last Sunday insisted that Jews wishing to reside in a future Palestinian state would be welcome and enjoy equal rights.

..."In fact the kind of state that we want to have, that we aspire to have, is one that would definitely espouse high values of tolerance, co-existence, mutual respect and deference to all cultures, religions," he added. "No discrimination whatsoever, on any basis whatsoever."

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