During the past few weeks, as the current round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations continue, the demand by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) recognize Israel as a Jewish state has elicited a variety of controversial comments.

Perhaps, the most surprising reaction was the revival of a formula that the two negotiating partners have consistently ignored — the establishment of a secular democratic state in historic Palestine. Among the advocates of such a solution are Edward Said, Fayez Sayegh, Ibrahim Abu-Lughoud and many other Arab political and intellectual figures.

This approach has been considered unrealistic despite the prevailing conviction that it would be a credible and durable resolution to the endemic conflict. While many Arabs and Jews have welcomed the project, it obviously has not seen the light of day. Instead, it has become a footnote in the historical evolution of what is called the Palestinian question.

This neglected option is now being revived by none other than Tareq Abbas, the 48-year-old son of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In a March 18 interview with The New York Times, Abbas stated, “If you don’t want to give me independence, at least give me civil rights.” In other words, a democratic secular state of Israel and Palestine that provides equality to all citizens, eliminates the current institutional discrimination against Arab Israeli citizens and answers the unfulfilled Palestinian desire for full citizenship in an independent Palestinian state.