Arab Media Personality Calls on Muslims to Accept Nation of Israel
A popular Kuwaiti media personality is calling on Arab and Muslim states to recognize Israel openly as a legitimate Jewish nation.
Yousuf 'Abd Al-Karim Al-Zinkawi explained in an article published in Al-Siyassa that countries like Qatar and Oman take a pragmatic approach to Israel. He encouraged other countries to learn from their approach.
It's not uncommon to hear Israel referred to in terms like "the Zionist Entity," or "the Israeli occupation."
Al-Zinkawi called for language like this to stop. He said the majority of the world supports Israel's existence so Arab states should complete the process and move in the same direction.
"The very presence of the Arab and Islamic states in the U.N. General Assembly, under the same roof as the Israeli delegation, means… that they recognize Israel," he wrote. "Otherwise, what is the meaning of their presence [Notes:there] , alongside Israel, which they do not recognize?"
"All those Arab and Islamic states that do not recognize Israel, if they have courage, let them stand before the members of the U.N. General Assembly, or in a session of the [Notes:UN] Security Council, and declare that they do not recognize Israel," Al-Zinkawi challenged.
The article was translated in English by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
According to United with Israel, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Dore Gold said there is "willingness in the Arab world for ties with Israel under the table."
