[Ynet News] Guy Bechor - - The new Israeli government demands recognition of both parts of the "two-states for two peoples" slogan, placing a mirror before Arab societies for the first time. This is an important development that must be insisted on at any price. The need to recognize Israel as the Jewish people's state will force the Arabs to look at Israel, and understand what it's all about. Is there a Jewish people? Most Arab community leaders would say: Not at all, just like Mahmoud Abbas or Saeb Erekat believe; at most, there is a Jewish religion, and perhaps Jewish culture. However, in order to get their own state, they will have to recognize this people, its identity, and its national movement - Zionism. Yes, the Jewish people is also a nation, and the Arabs will have to accept it. If such a demand is made, and they reject it to this day, what does it say about them? That they're racist? Unwilling to recognize the other? The writer is a lecturer in Arab Law and Middle East Politics at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya.
2009-04-27 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive