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Israel as the National Homeland of the Jewish People

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Tal Becker - The claim for Israel's recognition as a Jewish state is as old as Zionism itself. In every negotiation aimed at resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli demands have included the right to self-determination as a Jewish state in one form or another. Both Jews and Palestinians have the right to self-determination. The trick is to accommodate both, rather than denying one or the other. Denying Israel's status as a Jewish homeland essentially ensures a perpetuation of the conflict. The idea that a majority group in a democratic state would seek to enshrine certain public attributes that reflect its character is neither unique nor rare. Constitutions of countries such as Denmark, Finland, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, and Italy all give some preference to the will of the majority. While the basic rights of minorities are protected, the majority's inclination to shape its country's public profile is honored. The writer is former legal adviser to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN and an international associate with The Washington Institute.
2010-03-26 09:37:40
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