It might sound like good PR for the pro-Israel side, but it’s nothing more than a dangerous meme.
No Arafat did not recognize a ”Jewish state”, but only, supposedly, the state of Israel. Also, after the voting by the PLO council took place, a journalist I know following the voting on the ground, made it very clear that the delegates voting on the measure, only voted to consider a future vote on the measure, and many filing out of the meeting place gave different understandings on what just transpired, it never really had the backing of the PLO.
NOTE: The infamous ” letter of recognition” wasn’t /still isn’t worth the paper it was written on.
ARAFAT RECOGNIZED JEWISH STATE, WHY WON’T ABBAS?
The Arab League is endorsing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to accept Israel as a Jewish state as a part of any peace agreement.
But in taking this position, Abbas – considered by the Obama administration to be a moderate Palestinian leader with whom a deal can be struck – is not going as far as his predecessor. Yasser Arafat recognized Israel as a Jewish state at least twice. In an undated video, Arafat said the PNC (Palestine National Council) accepted two states. One Palestinian, and a “Jewish state… Israel.”
“The PNC has accepted two states. Palestine state and Jewish state… Israel.”