Egypt concerned over defining Israel as Jewish state
FM Aboul Gheit tells 'Al Arabiya' network he fears for fate of Arabs in Israel in event of UN approving decision to define Israel as a Jewish state.
By JPOST.COM STAFFaboul gheit egypt FM 311 ap(photo credit: AP)
Defining Israel as a Jewish state is something that arouses concern, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit who spoke to the Al Arabiya network on Monday.Aboul Gheit feared for the fate of Israeli Arabs in the case that the UN approves a decision to define Israel as a Jewish state. RELATED:An Israeli Arab intifada?'Israeli-Arab peace a US priority'"Would they give them all the citizens rights that they deserve? Would they remain a minority or could it be that they would be deported?" Aboul Gheit said in the Al Arabiya report.Aboul Gheit said that Arabs make up 20% of the population of Israel. What would happen if that number would rise 30%, for example in another 25 years.The Egyptian foreign minister denied reports that Prime Minister Bnyamin Netanyahu met with the Egyptian president's son, Gamal Mubarak, in Washington last week."Its a lie, it is not the first time that the president's son accompied him, therefore there is no real significance," Aboul Gheit said to Al Arabiya.The comments come after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in Washington that “settlement activities in the Palestinian territory are contrary to international law. They will not create rights for Israel, nor are they going to achieve peace or security for Israel.Mubarak urged Israel to “seize the current opportunity” and “not let it slip through your fingers.”
