Kuwait City: Arab leaders said on Wednesday they will never recognise Israel as a Jewish state, blaming it for a lack of progress in the Mideast peace process.
The statement, which came at the end of a two-summit in Kuwait, also rejected what the Arab League described as the continuation of Jewish colony building in the West Bank and the “Judaisation” of occupied Jerusalem.
The League’s announcement that it will not recognise Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people rejects a key demand of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mideast peace talks.
Netanyahu believes there cannot be peace without such a recognition. The Palestinians oppose this, saying it harms the rights of Palestinian refugees displaced from what is now Israel, as well as those of Israel’s Arab minority.
“We hold Israel entirely responsible for the lack of progress in the peace process and continuing tension in the Middle East, the League communique said. “We express our absolute and decisive rejection to recognising Israel as a Jewish state.”
It also added that it rejected what it said was the “the continuation of settlements [colonies], Judaisation of Jerusalem and attacks in its Muslim and Christian shrines and changing its demographics and geography.” The statement did not elaborate.
