The Arab League has refused to recognise Israel as a 'Jewish state', backing the rejection of Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel has been pushing for the recognition as essential to peace negotiations but the Arab League's chief Nabil El-Araby called on Arab countries to take a "firm stand" against the demands.
According to Israelis, the demand seeks to recognise Jewish history and rights on the land, but Palestinians fear the status will be used to restrict possible return options for Palestinian refugees and will lead to discrimination against Israel's significant Arab minority.
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