Abbas mocks idea of Jewish state

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, addressing the Palestinian Youth Parliament last week, rejected Israel's identity as a Jewish state, mocking the idea. Bringing the audience to smiles and cheers, Abbas said with a grin that as far as he is concerned Israel can call itself "the Zionist Republic, the Hebrew, the National, [or] the Socialist [Republic]."

(Note: PMW released part of Abbas' statement last week, without the video.)

The following is the transcript:

"The 'Jewish state.' What is a 'Jewish state?' We call it, the 'State of Israel'. You can call yourselves whatever you want. But I will not accept it. And I say this on a live broadcast... It's not my job to define it, to provide a definition for the state and what it contains. You can call yourselves the Zionist Republic, the Hebrew, the National, the Socialist [Republic] call it whatever you like. I don't care."

PA TV, Apr. 27, 2009