(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Following is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' response to remarks made today by Palestinian Chairman Mahmud Abbas relating to recognition of Israel as a Jewish state:
The recognition of Israel as the sovereign state of the Jewish people is an essential and necessary step in the historic process of reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians.
The more the Palestinians assimilate this fundamental and substantive fact, the sooner the peace between the two peoples will progress toward fruition.