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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 20:59 04/12/2007 Israeli Arab leaders: A Palestinian state is not the solution for us By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Tel Aviv University  The establishment of a Palestinian state will not provide a solution for the national aspirations of Israel's Arab citizens, Arab public figures said on Tuesday. Arab leaders participated Tuesday in a conference held to mark one year since the release of the "Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel." The document demanded Israeli Arabs receive cultural, religious and educational autonomy, and the right to veto government decisions on national issues that affect them. Several speakers on Tuesday addressed controversial comments made recently by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who said that a future Palestinian state would solve the national aspirations of all the Palestinian people - in the Palestinian territories and inside Israel. Advertisement Dr. Amal Jamal, head of the Political Science department at Tel Aviv University, said Tuesday that the "Palestinians have their Palestine. We have our Palestine." He emphasized the Palestinian right to self-identification also encompasses the Palestinian minority inside Israel, and demanded Israeli Arabs be give the chance to realize this right. Jafar Farah, the Director of Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab citizens in Israel, said that a Palestinian state is in the interest of the Arab public in Israel, but has no connection to the rights of the Israeli Arab minority. "We need to define majority-minority relations in a manner that will guarantee minority rights. The character of the state is an internal Israel matter. I don't think it is in the interest of the State of Israel for Abu Mazen to define its character," he continued, referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The conference was the initiative of the Tel Aviv University's Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation and the Walter Lebach Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence Through Education. Elie Rekhess, director of the Konrad Adenauer Program, said that in the year since the release of the Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel, no government solutions for the needs of Israeli Arabs have been put forth. He added that the Jewish public must also deal with the Arab minority in the framework of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, so that "we don't wake up one day after the signing of a peace agreement and find out that a big part of the problem wasn't dealt with." Related articles: Israeli Arabs seek autonomy and veto on government decisions FM Livni's remark on Palestinian state angers Arab MKs Ben-Eliezer: Continued neglect of Israeli Arabs may spark 'internal Intifada' Poll: 75% of Israeli Arabs support Jewish, democratic constitution Bookmark to del.icio.us Hostile environment Arab states reject a proposed UN environment center due to inclusion of Israel. Poverty report A study shows the number of poor asking for food has doubled in the last 5 years.   1.   they should seek citizenship in any such state & help 21:02  |  frenz 04/12/07   2.   They want their own Palestine inside Israel 21:06  |  Israeli 04/12/07   3.   Continuing saga of Arab attempts to destroy our Jewish State... 21:34  |  bat yam 04/12/07   4.   Israeli Arabs... 21:36  |  jason asman 04/12/07   5.   Israel, Love It Or Leave It 21:50  |  dyinglikeflies 04/12/07   6.   Israeli palestinians and palestinian Israelis 21:51  |  dana 04/12/07   7.   "Our Palestine" 22:13  |  Awake 04/12/07   8.   Ugly 5`th column sensing weakness of Israel undermined by Lefties 22:20  |  Absolute Sweden 04/12/07   9.   As an Israeli-Arab, these are not my asperation 22:23  |  Rami 04/12/07   10.   Dana, I agree with you 100% 22:24  |  Rami 04/12/07   11.   That`s what I thought, Rami #9 22:38  |  Polybios 04/12/07   12.   Not a solution 22:40  |  Shmuelshachor 04/12/07   13.   6 Excuse me dana. You are dreaming. 22:58  |  common sense 04/12/07   14.   time for the reality check! unhappy arabs to arab lands 23:04  |  victor hardman 04/12/07   15.   Rami 23:10  |  Gabistan 04/12/07   16.   We are a strange people 23:33  |  Israeli guy 04/12/07   17.   Israeli Arabs Have Two REAL Choices: Palestine Or Emigrate. 23:39  |  Proud Pal Defender 04/12/07   18.   13Commonsens,funny I have seen reports from Christians in the 23:41  |  lakshmi 04/12/07   19.   Rami #10 vs. common sense #13 - time for sanity check? 00:54  |  dana 05/12/07   20.   Israel is their country too. Simple as that. 12:12  |  Johnboy 05/12/07   21.   CORRECTION: To Israeli Arabs Have Two Real Choices, Etc. 01:08  |  Proud Pal Defender 06/12/07

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