NYTIMES: "ISRAELI PM OLMERT SETS NEW CONDITIONS ON PALESTINIAN TALKS"

From the New York Times and Reuters:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday talks on Palestinian statehood must be predicated on the recognition of Israel as "the state of the Jewish people," a new Israeli condition.

Palestinian leaders swiftly rejected Olmert's demand and the issue threatened to complicate attempts to draft a joint document that would serve as the foundation for a U.S.-hosted Middle East conference later this month.

Israel and the Palestinians regard the international gathering in Annapolis, Maryland, as a launching point for talks on statehood, including "core issues" such as borders, the future of Jerusalem and millions of Palestinian refugees.

Olmert's office said he told the European Union's top diplomat, Javier Solana, that Israel insisted "the foundation for the post-Annapolis negotiations with the Palestinians be recognition of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people."

Differences over the issue emerged this week when Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Palestinians would not accept Israel as a "Jewish state," a definition that could help Olmert argue against a return of refugees in a final deal.

Although Olmert has now put the demand on the record, his use of the phrase "state of the Jewish people," rather than "Jewish state," could leave room for diplomatic maneuvering.

"We do not accept conditions of this type, not at all," said Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Al Arabiya television.

This whole process leading up to the Annapolis Summit has completely mystified me to be frank. Why would Israel meet with Abbas?

RELIAPUNDIT ADDS: First off, the headline is a BIG LIE: THIS IS NIT A NEW DEMAND.

B,ut that this is A FREAKIN PROBLEM FOR EREKAT AND ABBAS IS FREAKIN HORRIBLE. This is square one.

If Abbas can't do this then he is of no use at all. And neither is this sham of a mockery of a travesty that Bush and Rice call "a peace process."

George Bush - the first president to call for a Palestinian state has also said time-after-time that he supports the Jewish state of Israel. Olmert is merely making this more clear; it is NOT a new demand.

One of the chief reasons the last serious negotiations broke down - when BJ Clinton and Ehud Barak and Arafat were handling things - was that Barak could not accept the return of Arab "refugees into Israel.

Even Olmert can't accept that. And It might be especially tough now, politically, as Arabs who have been living in east Jerusalem for decades have lately been applying for Israeli citizenship - as if in some concerted effort to gain leverage.

That Israel must remain a Jewish state is paramount. If Bush and Rice renege on this it will be the end for them.

And any new Arab state must recognize and accept Israel and STOP JIHADOTERROR.

Or there is no deal.

Just war.