Mansour Abbas in Arabic: Is the state Jewish? We were forced to accept that so we wouldn’t be disqualified from running for the Knesset. I do not deny the Nakba.

In an Arabic-language post published this morning, Mansour Abbas explains his positions regarding the foundational issues of the State of Israel.

After coming under attack over his response to my question on “Meet the Press,” in which he said he would not today repeat his statement that “Zionist gangs conquered Palestine,” he clarifies:

“The claim that I deny the Nakba, the displacement, and the Palestinian narrative is yet another fabrication. When people on the right confront me with past statements of mine that actually attest to the authenticity of my affiliation, identity, and narrative, and I say that today—especially since we have advanced our approach of partnership and influence in recent years—I formulate my statements, ideas, and political approach differently, that does not mean I deny the Nakba, the displacement, or the Palestinian narrative.

“Is it not possible that different wording and a different political approach could actually express the truth of the Nakba, draw lessons from the historical experience accurately and wisely, and present a practical vision for the future? Could this not provide an opportunity to gain influence that would enable us to address the injustices and wounds we inherited from our ongoing Nakba, prevent a new displacement in its various forms, and move beyond the historical narrative in order to write the narrative of the future we aspire to?”