Most of the Muslim world still refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist. But could a Hebrew-language Arab newspaper be the key to coexistence?
On Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority launched a Hebrew-language version of the Wafa news site. (My favorite part of this story from Haaretz was the lede, which included, in quotes, the claim that the site would provide “accurate and first-hand information” from the West Bank.) PA President Mahmoud Abbas wrote, in a letter published on the site, that the effort would help bring “peace and coexistence between the two peoples.”
The director general of the site, Riyad al-Hassan, Wednesday said the appearance of a Hebrew version was long overdue.
“We should have recognized our need to communicate with the Israeli reader, to test his ability to recognize his Palestinian rival, just like the Palestinian recognizes his Israeli rival,” he said.
According to Hassan, the Hebrew-language version of Wafa will not try to mimic the Arab-language one.
I wouldn’t expect Hamas to follow suit in Gaza.
