PM Benjamin Netanyahu's tactic of placing the matter of Israel's Jewish character at the forefront of discussions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has succeeded, as Abbas, in rejecting Israel as a Jewish state, reveals his extremist core.
Although printing Abbas' statement was likely difficult for NYT, as one of its policies is to present Abbas in the most flattering, agreeable light possible, Isabel Kershner could have gone farther in explaining to the reader the implications of Abbas' refusal.
Instead, she gives voice to Saeb Erekat, a senior Abbas aide, who deftly avoids the matter at hand to hammer at the PA's favorite issue - Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, or settlements.
Abbas and Erekat's efforts not so much to explain their position as to brush the issue away - with Abbas making a poor joke and Erekat wrongly interpreting a historical document - are not just embarrassing but notably sinister.
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Abbas' refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish State is significant - please explicate the uncompromising attitude behind Abbas' line of thought.
ReplyDeleteAs Kershner notes, it is tightly bound to the notion of a Palestinian "Right of Return." If Israel is the Jewish State, then it is therefore not the Palestinian homeland, and therefore not the future residence of Palestinian refugees, who are uniquely defined as the refugees of 1948 and all their descendants.
It should be apparent to all that if the PA continues to advocate this "Right of Return," there is no basis for a Two-State Solution.
Instead, the Times inverses reality, writing that "Palestinian officials are skeptical about his [Netanyahu's] intentions." As if the Palestinians are "ready" to make peace. The fact that the PA is unwilling to relinquish the "Right of Return" and recognize Israel as a Jewish State should make this apparent - but the Times won't connect the dots.
It's better to keep the ONUS on Israel.