By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Sunday that the future Palestinian state would provide a solution to Palestinians worldwide – including Israeli Arabs – in their struggle for national expression, Israel’s local daily Ha’aretz reported on its website.
According to the report, Livni was responding to an announcement made Sunday by an Israeli Arab organization, the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, regarding its decision to draft a document expressing its refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
The foreign minister was quoted as saying that the national demands of Israeli Arabs should end the moment a Palestinian state is established.
The foreign minister added that “it must be clear to everyone that the State of Israel is a national homeland for the Jewish people.”
During the Israeli Arab organization’s meeting on Saturday, committee members announced they would send the document when it is completed to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Arab countries and international organizations.
The committee said its decision was made due to Israel’s insistence that the PNA recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Livni’s statement has drawn criticism from some of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) Members.
Ophir Paz-Pines, a Knesset Member (MK) from the Labor party, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post’s website as saying that, “Israelis the home of the Jewish people, but we mustn’t forget that it is also the home and country of non-Jewish citizens.”
“The Palestinian state will serve as a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, but not for Arab-Israelis,” Paz-Pines continued.
Muhammad Barakei, an Arab MK was quoted as saying that, “The Palestinian Arabs in Israel are the country’s children and live in their homeland.”