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Last update - 23:16 01/11/2008
Lieberman: Shin Bet could be behind settler violence
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Shin Bet, Israel News 

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday that recent acts of violence by settlers near Hebron could have been perpetrated by Shin Bet undercover agents.

"I only want to say that the actions there appeared strange to me. I hope this isn't a case of a 'Champagne' or of another Shin Bet agent," said the right-wing lawmaker, speaking in an interview with Channel 2.

'Champagne' was the code-name for Avishai Raviv, an agent-informer the Shin Bet security service used to participate in, and even initiate, right-wing violence against Arabs in the territories, particularly in the Hebron-Kiryat Arba area of the West Bank, while filing reports to his controllers about radical Jewish activity.
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Last month, prominent settler leader Daniela Weiss claimed a pipe bomb attack against outspoken left-wing advocate Ze'ev Sternhell was masterminded by the Shin Bet to turn public opinion against the settlers.

In the TV interview, Lieberman also declared that Israeli Arabs are a greater problem for Israel than the Palestinians.

"We warned before the October [2000] riots, and also before the Acre riots, and I say today: At least to me it is clear that our central problem is not Palestinian at all," he said.

"The subject of Arab Israelis is a complex, charged matter and we also need to sort it out."

Lieberman was referring to the violent clashes between Arabs and Jews in the northern city of Acre that erupted on the holiday of Yom Kippur last month.

He also said that the prompt apology that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres issued after he lambasted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is "tantamount to the behavior of a battered wife."

Continuing his verbal assault on Egypt, Lieberman said that Cairo is preparing for war against Israel.

"It is obvious that Egypt is waiting for the right time to deploy troops in [demilitarized] Sinai."

Following Liebereman's comments, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Saturday that the peaceful relations with Egypt are a strategic asset.

"Egypt is a responsible and important player in the Middle East, and Lieberman's comments are irresponsible. Even electioneering should not compromise our delicate and important relationship with the Egyptians," Barak said.

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    The namesake
    Why did Holland fund megaship named after prominent Nazi?
      1.   Hmmm.Could be. Could be. 19:39  |  Gideon Reader 01/11/08
      2.   Leftism Must First Be Eradicated as a Precondition 19:50  |  Joseph.E 01/11/08
      3.   The make-believe problem of Liberman... 19:54  |  Esther 01/11/08
      4.   Lieberman IS Jewish LEADER! 19:55  |  Jeff 01/11/08
      5.   liebermann 20:00  |  eva 01/11/08
      6.   The extreme right wing refuses 20:16  |  Yonatan 01/11/08
      7.   Israel & Peace, Oil & Water 20:25  |  svd 01/11/08
      8.   The subject of Arabs Whether Israelis or Pals May be Solved 20:40  |  Joseph.E 01/11/08
      9.   Lieberman has more guts than the cowardly left-wing gov. we have 20:43  |  Kenny 01/11/08
      10.   I Hate to Say it 20:46  |  Igor 01/11/08
      11.   Settlers appetite for violence is always very high 20:55  |  Aounist 01/11/08
      12.   violence 20:55  |  Ralph 01/11/08
      13.   Lieberman = betrayer 21:10  |  Mahal 01/11/08
      14.   Peres & Olmert Have a History of AntiJews,Anti-Israel, 21:21  |  Joseph.E 01/11/08
      15.   #10 Why do you hate to say it Igor? 21:26  |  Dummy 01/11/08
      16.   You Can`t Separate Politics from Faith, Olmert & Peres Have None 21:29  |  Joseph.E 01/11/08
      17.   Fair Is fair 21:46  |  Eli 01/11/08
      18.   Now, it`s question of Sovereignty 22:15  |  Ben Lolo 01/11/08
      19.   Lieberman`s correctly 22:45  |  Robert Haymond 01/11/08
      20.   muslim/arab infiltrators 22:55  |  Great White North 01/11/08
      21.   # 10 igor 22:56  |  Axel 01/11/08
      22.   Jeff #4... unfortunately Liberman IS Jewish... 23:20  |  Esther 01/11/08
      23.   This guy is a real loony 23:34  |  Mark Lincoln 01/11/08
      24.   Liberman for P.M 00:04  |  Agent 02/11/08
      25.   BUNCHA CRAZIES POSTED BEFORE I DID 00:11  |  IsraFan 02/11/08
      26.   BRAZIL IN IRAN 01:23  |  Joao Marcos 02/11/08
      27.   Re Igon No. 10 01:34  |  Dudka 02/11/08
      28.   Lubavitcher Rebbe stated: Egypt is israel`s greatest enemy. 02:25  |  Translator 02/11/08
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