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PLO chief: We will recognize Israel in return for 1967 borders
Yasser Abed Rabbo says that in exchange for accepting Palestinian territorial claims, it will recognize Israel as 'whatever it wants.'
By Avi Issacharoff

Senior Palestine Liberation Organization official Yasser Abed Rabbo said on Wednesday that the Palestinians will be willing to recognize the State of Israel in any way that it desires, if the Americans would only present a map of the future Palestinian state that includes all of the territories captured in 1967, including East Jerusalem.

In response to U.S. State Department Spokesman Phillip Crowley's statement on Tuesday night that the Palestinians should respond to the Israeli demand, Abed Rabbo told Haaretz, "We want to receive a map of the State of Israel which Israel wants us to accept."

"If the map will be based on the 1967 borders and will not include our land, our houses and East Jerusalem, we will be willing to recognize Israel according to the formulation of the government within the hour," added Rabbo.

Abed Rabbo continued, "It is important for us to know where are the borders of Israel and where are the borders of Palestine. Any formulation the Americans present – even asking us to call Israel the 'Chinese State' – we will agree to it, as long as we receive the 1967 borders. We have recognized Israel in the past, but Israel has not recognized the Palestinian state."

shafique wrote:The problem is that International Law and pretty much all peace proposals starting with UN Resolution 242 calls for Israel to stop occupying land captured in 1967 (i.e. return the 22% of what was called 'the country of Palestine' in 1930 in the Hope Simpson report, to the Palestinians and keep the 78% - still a big gain from the 55% allocated to them by the UN.)

What's generally missing is that the Israelis blame the Palestinians for holding up the peace - and insisting they 'recognise Israel' has now been smartly countered.

They can't say that the Palestinians refuse to recognise Israel just because they have linked it to Israel obeying the law (or at least specifying what land it wants to call Israel).

Cheers,
Shafique

The PLO official further denied speaking with Israeli daily Haaretz on Wednesday, where he reportedly said "If the map will be based on the 1967 borders and will not include our land, our houses and East Jerusalem, we will be willing to recognize Israel according to the formulation of the government within the hour."

*62% under full Israeli control. This area contains all Israeli settlements, roads used by settlers, buffer zones and almost all of the Jordan Valley
• 38% under Palestinian civil control. In more than half of this, Israel has security control
• There are 149 settlements and 100 outposts (settlements not authorised by Israel)
• Population: 2.4 million Palestinians, nearly 500,000 Jewish or Israeli settlers

shafique wrote:So, the substance of the first post still stands (as the quote is accurate).

Haaretz also asked Abed Rabbo if this was just his personal opinion or if the position represented the PLO. The comments represent both the PLO's position and his own, he replied.

Presumably, the Palestinian leadership is currently attempting to throw the ball back into Israel's court.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that under no circumstances would the PA sign an agreement with Israel which required the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state or a land swap.

"If we showed flexibility on these issues the peace agreement would have been signed a long time ago," Abbas said.