Arab League Endorses PA Refusal to Recognize Israel as a “Jewish State”

On March 25, 2014, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas makes a statement to the heads of Arab states reiterating his refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish State. The next day, the Arab League announces its full backing of the Palestinian Authority. The League states its “total rejection of the call to consider Israel as a Jewish state.” Palestinians and the Arab League fear that this demand is an attempt to prevent or restrict possible Palestinian return to any part of Israel. In final status treaty talks, Israel could modify this request by accepting the return of a specified number of Palestinians, but insisting that a clause be included in a final treaty stating, this is the “end of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”