Report: Abbas Will Oppose Official Recognition of Jewish State
by Gidon Ben-Zvi
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas presented his terms for the acceptance of a U.S.-backed framework agreement with Israel to the Arab League over the weekend in Cairo, Ma’an News Agency reported on Monday. Among Abbas’ conditions, there is to be no recognition of Israel as a Jewish State.
Ma’an’s source is Muhammad Sabih, Palestinian Affairs Representative to the Arab League.
According to Sabih, Abbas notified the Arab League as to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s plan to unveil the framework peace agreement at the end of December. Kerry’s proposal includes an outline of the future borders of a Palestinian state, Sabih said.
Sabih also told Ma’an that the Palestinian Authority does not plan to respond to the U.S. proposal immediately. Rather, Abbas asserted that once the Americans present their peace plan, the PA will unveil the framework to the Arab League. At that point, representatives of Arab nations will convene to decide on whether to accept or reject Kerry’s path to peace.
Sabih also said that Abbas seeks to reach a final status agreement and would therefore reject any interim deal. Furthermore, according to Sabih, Abbas will reject any proposal that requires the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian-Arab state.
Earlier this year Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that there could be no peace without the acceptance of Israel as the Jewish homeland.