Although PM Netanyahu placed the need for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state as a pre-condition for resuming the political process, the Israeli government does not seem to have offered a clear idea of what this demand actually means according to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout.
While such recognition of Israel has been a condition of at least two other Governments (Barak and Olmert), it has been completely rejected by the Palestinians – with Abu Mazen remarking that “its not my job to give a description of the state. Name yourself the Hebrew Socialist Republic — it is none of my business”
Regardless of this opposition, it is essential the GOI clarifies exactly what is means if it wants to consolidate American and European support for such a proposal.
In this context, Gadi Baltiansky draws an interesting distinction between two different ‘recognitions’;
- Recognition of Israel as a Jewish state (which he claims would be unreasonable, as each state defines its own character)
- Recognition of the Jewish right to a state within the land of Israel (which Baltiasnky argues would reflect Palestinian acceptance that just as the Palestinians have rights on their land, the Jews do as well.)
Another option would be for the Palestinians to recognize that Israel fulfils the Jewish people’s right to self determination while Palestine fulfils the Palestinian people’s right to self determination. This would help prevent the Palestinian state from continuing the struggle against Israel after a peace agreement.
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yotamhacohen
not a great argument or paper on very important subject
Hi David
thanks for the comment – would be happy to hear in what ways you think the post is lacking
Calev
Yeah, no kidding! Does anybody know what it means?
BN keeps using that phrase and I can only guess what it means. I thought it must have something to do with maintaining a predominantly Jewish population or artificially maintaining a Jewish government representation or voting majority.
What difference does it make? What will Palestinians do differently if they don’t accept Israel as a Jewish state? If you’re an independent “Sovereign State”, are you not required to accept that other states can control their own borders and immigration and run their internal affairs however they like?
Hey Andrew
you are right that every state can define itself however it likes.
I think the call for Israel to be accepted as a Jewish state / state of the Jewish people / state that realizes the right of the Jewish people to self determination is a way to ensure that an agreement with the Palestinians will actually signify an End of Conflict, rather than just the continuation of the struglle via Israeli Arabs etc
Calev