(Ynet).Behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's optimistic statement suggesting peace talks with the Palestinians may reignite by the end of September, is the apparent silent assurance that Yisrael Beiteinu chair and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will not extract his party from the coalition in the event Israel will comply with the US demand to halt all settlement expansion.
Should Netanyahu have to force the "sextet" to make a decision on the matter, and with Lieberman abstained on the vote, he would have a majority of four.
The six-man security forum includes Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Lieberman, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon, Minister of Intelligence Services Dan Meridor and Minister Benny Begin. In case of a vote on ceasing settlement expansion, Netanyahu, Barak and Meridor will vote in favor of the move, while Begin and Yaalon are likely to object.
Earlier Sunday, Lieberman said that he would be "willing to give anyone who thinks they can find a diplomatic solution (to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) time to try." The foreign minister also said he "would not draw a line in the sand" over the settlements.
Prime Minister Netanyahu leaves for an official visit to Germany and the UK on Monday, and is likely to be urged, yet again, to freeze settlement construction and make goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.
Wednesday will see Netanyahu meet with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell. The latter too, is expected to demand a one-year cessation in settlement expansion in the West Bank, in exchange for the US refraining form chiding Israel over the 2,500 housing units which are already under construction in the area.
Monday evening will see Netanyahu meet with the UK's top-10 leading newspaper editors, before meeting with Premier Gordon Brown in Tuesday. He will meet with Mitchell on Wednesday morning, before flying to Berlin. Netanyahu will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday morning and is expected back in Israel later that night.
Should Netanyahu have to force the "sextet" to make a decision on the matter, and with Lieberman abstained on the vote, he would have a majority of four.
The six-man security forum includes Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Lieberman, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon, Minister of Intelligence Services Dan Meridor and Minister Benny Begin. In case of a vote on ceasing settlement expansion, Netanyahu, Barak and Meridor will vote in favor of the move, while Begin and Yaalon are likely to object.
Earlier Sunday, Lieberman said that he would be "willing to give anyone who thinks they can find a diplomatic solution (to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) time to try." The foreign minister also said he "would not draw a line in the sand" over the settlements.
Prime Minister Netanyahu leaves for an official visit to Germany and the UK on Monday, and is likely to be urged, yet again, to freeze settlement construction and make goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.
Wednesday will see Netanyahu meet with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell. The latter too, is expected to demand a one-year cessation in settlement expansion in the West Bank, in exchange for the US refraining form chiding Israel over the 2,500 housing units which are already under construction in the area.
Monday evening will see Netanyahu meet with the UK's top-10 leading newspaper editors, before meeting with Premier Gordon Brown in Tuesday. He will meet with Mitchell on Wednesday morning, before flying to Berlin. Netanyahu will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday morning and is expected back in Israel later that night.
