Disagreement over Israel's status as a Jewish state threaten to torpedo US-brokered peace talks with the Palestinians
Demands that the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state have become a major stumbling block in John Kerry’s search for a settlement to the Middle East’s most enduring conflict.
As the US secretary of state continued a frantic diplomatic quest on Sunday that some have dubbed “mission impossible”, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said Palestinians’ refusal to formally acknowledge the country’s Jewish character had become the key topic in his discussions with Mr Kerry.
Palestinian officials admitted that Mr Kerry has pressed the issue with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, who has so far refused to bend.
“The Americans have made it very clear that [recognition of Israel as a Jewish state] is their position,” one Palestinian official told The Daily Telegraph. “They talk about it in meetings with our side and make an issue out of it. We have made it very clear that we are not going to sign any agreement that recognises Israel as a Jewish state.”
The Palestinian leader believes the rights of Israel’s approximately 1.5 million Arab citizens would be undermined if he concedes the point. It would also weaken the claims of around 5 million refugees and their descendants claiming a “right of return” to homes that are now in Israel, Palestinians argue.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...ish-Israel.html
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I'm absolutely shocked!!!
Perhaps blow hard Kerry has now discovered for himself why there isn't [and hasn't been] a brokered agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. They want Israel gone. They want no Israel. Nada!!!
So how do you negotiate with someone who wants you dead?
Perhaps Kerry can give a long speech and bore them to death until they cry for mercy and agree to his terms?