Abbas to Palestinian audience: “I recognize the State of Israel"

 Abbas: "People are always asking me, wherever I go, no matter whether there are Jews there or not: What do you think about the Jewish state? I have said what I think, and now I say it again: I shall not agree to the Jewishness of Israel, nor to a Jewish state. I recognize the State of Israel, and that is the mutual recognition that was [signed] between Arafat and Rabin, and both of them [died] – may Allah have mercy on them. Besides that I have nothing to say; I shall not agree to it."