Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni lashed out at Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi Sunday for his rejection of the government demand that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last week that "anyone who wants to negotiate with me" must define Israel as a Jewish home, as it was described in the Balfour Declaration 90 years ago.

Foreign Minister Livni said that Arabs cannot "hold the stick by both ends" and ask for a new Arab country to be established within Israel's current borders without recognizing Israel as Jewish.