Mubarak rejects Israel's 'Jewish state' demands

Date: 10 / 07 / 2009  Time:  17:59
Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will not compromise on his refusal to recognize Israel as a "Jewish state," he said in a recent interview.

Mubarak's comments came amid demands by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others that Palestinians recognize Israel by its majority religion.

"Don't you have Arab citizens in Israel?" the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted him as asking on Friday, referring to the country's Muslims and Christians, who make up just over 20 percent of Israel's population.

"You want to turn Israel into a Jewish state only? That's very bad. I'm telling you, it's a serious mistake which will harm you," the Egyptian leader went on to say.

Palestinians who remained in the land that became the state of Israel in 1948 were eventually granted citizenship and the right to vote, although they have complained for decades of state discrimination.

"An open state, on the other hand, is a different matter. Look at us in Egypt: We have Muslims, Christians, Copts and Jews," he said, in reference to the country's minorities.

The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization, both bound by a constitution that references "the land of the three monotheistic faiths," have rejected such recognition, saying it would prejudice the rights of the Israel's Palestinian minority.

Individual figures have also dismissed defining the Israeli state solely by its majority religion, including President Mahmoud Abbas, who last April said he would never accept it in principle, but in name was indifferent. "Name yourself the Hebrew Socialist Republic -- it is none of my business," he said.

Other leaders have noted that their rejection of defining Israel as a "Jewish state" stems from concern over minority rights, rather than an opposition to the Jewish religion. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad last Sunday insisted that Jews wishing to reside in a future Palestinian state would be welcome and enjoy equal rights.

"Jews to the extent they choose to stay and live in the state of Palestine will enjoy those rights," at least to the extent that Palestinian citizens of Israel enjoy, Fayyad said.

"In fact the kind of state that we want to have, that we aspire to have, is one that would definitely espouse high values of tolerance, co-existence, mutual respect and deference to all cultures, religions," he added. "No discrimination whatsoever, on any basis whatsoever."