UPDATE: See HonestReporting UK for a more in-depth response: The Indie: Recogniton of a Jewish State – A "Relatively Minor Issue". Catrina Stewart's belittling of a key Israeli negotiating demand demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the bigger picture.
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Who gave The Independent's Catrina Stewart carte blanche to editorialize in this news story?
Washington hopes to bring the Israelis and Palestinians to a framework agreement within one year, yet the two sides remain deeply divided over even relatively minor issues, such as the Palestinian reluctance to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
It says a lot that Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state is trivial in the eyes of Stewart and everyone else in The Independent's editorial chain of command.
Last year, I blogged several reasons why it's important for Palestinians to recognize Israel specifically as a Jewish state. In short:
- There's a profound difference between recognizing Israel's existence and recognizing Israel as an inherently Jewish state.
- The Second Intifada and calls for Israel's destruction reinforce fears that a purely diplomatic accord will not leave Israel secure.
- Jews have legitimate aspirations for national self-determination.
