No nation is obliged to recognize the ‘religious character’ of another nation. As Erekat pointed out there is no relevance between establishing peace and recognizing “Israel as a Jewish state” after all this absurd demand was not even an issue when Jordan and Egypt signed their peace treaties with Israel. Nor was it a prerequisite that the UN recognize “Israel as a Jewish state” before Israel became a member. All this smacks of deep seated insecurity. Israel is so insecure in its national identity that it needs the recognition from others to reinforce its self-identity. In a way it is flattering that Israel would need the acknowledgment of others to define itself but at the same time absurd as nobody really cares what Israel calls itself and they certainly are not going to reinforce Israel’s national identity when they are not under any obligation or onus to do so. After all Israel has never recognized the religious character of any other nation state so why should other nations/people? This latest demand is just another ploy by Israel to avoid making peace. In cases like this I like to quote the former Israeli Chief of Military Intelligence, General Yehoshafat Harkabi: “Our demands should be moderate and balanced, and appear to be reasonable. But in fact they must involve such conditions as to ensure that the enemy rejects them. Then we should manoeuvre and allow him to define his own position, and reject a settlement on the basis of a compromise position. We should then publish his demands as embodying unreasonable extremism”. The simple truth is that these tired old ploys no longer work and the UN, Obama, the Palestinians are quite happy to move this issue to a resolve with or without Israel. In plain English, Israel is fast becoming irrelevant and if Israel will not embrace the Two State solution any number of options are on the table ie: the Palestinians unilaterally declare independence, One State solution etc.

Independent Palestinian state? Independence - you mean like paying their bills themselves instead of living on international welfare?

commented that and you rarely listen so whatever have fun. Spending 1/4 of you're day posting here like it means anything...

That´s how it´s always been. The Israelis come up with new demands and conditions for peace. Why?

the Israelis have the right to ask for at least one (if not more ) concessions from the Palestinians whether they "have to" or not.. negotiations mean give and take, not take and take. The Palestinians want thousands of jews evacuated, to allow thousands if not millions of Palestinians to be able to "return" to live within the green line.. but Israel can't ask for one simple thing of being recognized as the Jewish state??? And, IF the Israelis would evacuate Yehuda and Shomron.. then the Palestinians have to give in on the "Right of Return".. "Right of Return" is basically saying that the Palestinians get one state full of ONLY Palestinians (which is incredibly racist, apartheid behavior) and then they get to monopolize the Jewish State. The Palestinians can't sit and take. They MUST acknowledge the jewish rights if they want to get what they want. The problem is .. that they don't want to recognize Israel as jewish because they want to rid the area from the Jordan to the mediteranean sea to be only theirs.

Israel simply refuses to be flooded with refugees, which is not an unreasonable request. All other "solutions" will more than likely never see the light of day, although they may be bandied about.

and some anti semites in europe are running the affairs in Israel. What do we need netanyahu for if he's too pathetic and weak to lead?

A complete settlement freeze, Let's not waste time.

You are seeing it all wrong. First of all the ‘Jewishness’ of the ‘Jewish State’ refers to its NATIONAL and not to its religious character. Secondly the whole thing of how a state defines itself is not the issue here nor the supposed security or insecurity about national identity. Of course, taken of its geopolitical context the issue seems a little bit strange but if you don’t want to play the naïve then you have to take it into consideration. The issue is that the Arabs, using the Palestinians as a front cover, are struggling to eradicate the Jewish state. One of the tactics is to play the two state solution such that the final resolution will involve the repatriation of about five million Palestinian refugees into Israel (not Palestine) thus creating a comfortable Arab majority in both ‘two States’. Israel in this case will be a merely second Palestine calling itself ‘Israel’ at east until it will decide with the majority of Arab voters to unify with the other Palestinian state. So again if you are not playing the naïve there is absolutely nothing wrong with Bibi’s demand. It is not Israel that has problems with its national identity or recognizing any countries religious/national character. If the Palestinians will demand from Israel to recognize Palestine as Arab/Muslim/ or whatever, Israel will happily comply with it. On the contrary the Arabs are the ones who are ‘insecure’ because of Israel’s national identity and this problem is the ROOT OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT so it extremely naïve of you if you think the conflict can be resolved without addressing the root problem.

I think that all those free LockheedMartin F-35s will integrate nicely with the existing free US aircraft in the IAF. Oh, by the way, how are the free german designed/built u-boats working out in the Israeli navy? Torpedoed/Sunk any Palestinian fishing boats lately?

on. Then remove the inhabitants and send them to jordan or gaza. No more arab building on any Jewish land in Jerusalem,Judea and Shomron. That is the solution. Plus no pali state on our Jewish land!

You're not in a position to lecture about wasting time, since you threw 9 months out the window. You could have had another child in that time.

this is the home to jews not christians or arabs or hindus... sorry dont like that then leave or not come or whatever

The problem is he thinks he is so slick. Why does he just articulated the Jewish right to build instead of all these games?

Christians and Muslims in Israel lose land between 1948 to 1951 in Northern borders and Galilee areas at gun point, then moved to camps further in Israel or force to Lebanon camps. With only 12% Jewish population then it was seen as a security need to get more Jews in that area, since Jews lost land in Europe and Arabs countries it was seen as fair by courts. Non-Jewish people are 25% of Israel's population now but if you include W. Bank and Gaza, its 51% Jewish.

that stupid to just give away military hardware for nothing? Somebody is paying pretty heftily for that equipment.

I think I should have my first baby when I feel it is the right time ,hope its soon ;)

The American and German taxpayers.

You are a decent young woman of principals and positive national inclinations. Not to mention smart and witty - I hope you have as many healthy babies as you like! And reminding you of our old saying, shokeh b3en el 7asood.

thanks dear, Some of what you have.