Sunday, December 26, 2010

FM Lieberman shooting in all directions: PM Netanyahu is unrealistic in hope for Peace, PA is an illegitimate gov't, Turks are liars

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman unleashed a string of vitriol Sunday attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the Turks liars, and labeling the Palestinian Authority as illegitimate.

At a conference of Foreign Ministry diplomats, Lieberman said that it would be impossible for Israel's governing coalition to consolidate a unified foreign policy acceptable to each member.
"Within the reality of the current political situation and the current coalition, it is not possible to present a real policy that would be accepted to everyone, If we were to present a policy program, the coalition simply would not exist anymore".
Lieberman also criticized Netanyahu, saying that his attempt to achieve a peace agreement with the Palestinians that would tend to all core issues within a year is simply unrealistic.
"Even if we offer the Palestinians Tel Aviv and a retreat to 1947 borders, they will find a reason not to sign a peace agreement with us."
Lieberman insisted yet again that the only option is a long-term interim agreement and said that he has an alternative plan that has so far been shelved. "I am ready to present this plan at any moment, but the plan is very different than what other government officials are talking about these days," he said.
"There is no need to enter a dispute with the Palestinians. We have a policy of sticks, not only carrots, It's not in the interest of the Palestinians to continue these moves and if we would have to deal with it, we will."
He went on to personally attack Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that the Palestinian Authority is an "illegitimate government that doesn't conduct elections. We cannot reach an agreement with them."

Lieberman called Turkey's demand for an apology over the IDF raid on the Marmara, in which nine Turkish civilians died, "beyond rude". He said lies were also being heard from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, "who visits Lebanon and threatens the State of Israel".
"I will not accept the lies we're hearing all the time, I heard the lies and false promises made by the foreign minister who said, 'Look, we are ready to cooperate with Israel, look at how we came to help Israel with the fire in the Carmel and in our stead they would not have done the same.' I want to remind him of the earthquake in 2007, when we sent delegations which were there for weeks. We worked and heard not a word".
"The one who needs to apologize is the Turkish government for supporting terror, the IHH, Hamas, and Hezbollah. There will be no apology, just the opposite, we are expecting one from Ankara."