Palestinians demand Israel present map of its borders
"If map is based on 1967 lines, then PA will recognize Israel by whatever name it wants," PLO chief Abed Rabbo quoted as saying.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
A Palestinian official demanded a map of Israel's borders on Wednesday in response to a US State Department statement urging the Palestinians to extend a counter-proposal to Israel's demand that they recognize it as a Jewish state.The State Department Tuesday urged the sides to come to a compromise and called for Palestinians to make clear what would be acceptable to them in lieu of a declaration that Israel is a Jewish state.RELATED:'Both sides must take steps for negotiations to continue'Fatah official says two-state solution is over"We officially demand that the US administration and the Israeli government provide a map of the borders of the State of Israel which they want us to recognize," Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Palestinian negotiation team, said Wednesday."We want to know whether this (Israeli) state includes our lands and houses in the West Bank and east Jerusalem," Abed Rabbo said."If this map is based on the 1967 borders and provides for the end of the Israeli occupation over all Palestinian lands... then we recognize Israel by whatever name it applies to itself in accordance with international law," Abed Rabbo explained.The peace talks have been stalled since September 26 when Israel's 10-month West Bank building freeze expired. The Palestinians said they would not continue with the direct talks if the freeze is not extended.