Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 09, 2009 Nisan 15, 5769 | | Israel Time: 22:41 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 04:29 02/04/2009
Lieberman to Haaretz: Israel ready for mutual peace moves
By Barak Ravid
Tags: Hamas, Israel news, Annapolis 

"You won't get any 'Israbluff' with me. Israel undertook obligations regarding the road map and it will honor them, but there must be reciprocity," Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview with Haaretz just hours after being sworn in as foreign minister. He criticized the previous government for failing to meet its commitments. "How many outposts did Olmert, Barak and Livni evacuate? How many roadblocks did they remove?"

At the handover ceremony at the Foreign Ministry Thursday afternoon, Lieberman sounded an aggressive foreign policy stance, emphasizing that the new government is not bound by the Annapolis process, under which former prime minister Ehud Olmert and former foreign minister Tzipi Livni conducted negotiations with the Palestinian Authority on the core issues of a final-status arrangement.

"Whoever thinks that he will achieve something by way of concessions - no, he will only invite more pressure and more wars," Lieberman said. "If you want peace, prepare for war.
Advertisement
The ceremony was attended by dozens of diplomats, many of whom registered discernible shock at the messages of the new minister that they will soon have to sell abroad. Livni violated protocol by speaking up and contradicting her successor, saying that actually Israel was indeed committed to the Annapolis process. After Lieberman ended his remarks, Livni told him: "You've convinced me that I was right not to join the government."

A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council commented Thursday on Lieberman's remarks. "The president has said many times that we are committed to the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security," Mike Hammer said.

'There must be reciprocity'

Speaking to Haaretz Thursday, Lieberman tried to tone down his rhetoric slightly. "I am committed to the road map of 2003 as approved by the Israeli cabinet," he said, referring to the outline for achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace proposed by then-president Bush. "I voted against it, but it is a cabinet resolution and I am bound by it."

He added that the new U.S. administration itself no longer talks about the Annapolis process. "I propose following the road map, phase by phase," he said. "I recently went quite far with my remarks, even saying that I was willing to leave my home at the Nokdim settlement if there was a cabinet resolution on the issue, but we can't give all this up for nothing, and there must be reciprocity."

Lieberman stressed that he would endeavor to meet all Israeli obligations regarding the road map. "Unlike others, we will carry out everything that is in writing, and there will be no contradiction between what we say and what we mean, but we will stick to the phased nature of the road map. We will conduct talks with the PA, but we want to make sure their 'checks' don't bounce. The Palestinians must first of all confront terror, take control of Gaza and demilitarize Hamas. Without these, it will be difficult to move forward."

Regarding Syria, Lieberman said: "There is no cabinet resolution regarding negotiations with Syria, and we have already said that we will not agree to withdraw from the Golan Heights. Peace will only be in exchange for peace."

Lieberman received his first invitation to an official visit abroad Thursday, in a congratulatory phone call from his Italian counterpart, Franco Frattini. He also spoke with the European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and with Spain's foreign minister, Miguel Moratinos.

In his Foreign Ministry speech Thursday Lieberman referred to relations with Egypt, in light of his harsh criticism of President Hosni Mubarak a few months ago. In a conciliatory gesture he said, "Egypt is an important element in the Arab world and in the world in general. I would certainly be happy to visit Egypt, but I'll also be happy to see Egypt's leaders visit here. I respect others and want them to respect us; I support the principle of reciprocity."

In a message aimed at Israel's diplomatic corps and Foreign Ministry employees, Lieberman said the ministry's new director-general will be appointed from among the ranks of the corps, rather than from outside. He also emphasized that meetings in his office will be held between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 10 P.M. only.


Related articles:
  • Lieberman: Israel is changing its policies on peace

  • Netanyahu, Lieberman 'struck secret deal for West Bank construction'
  • Egypt ready to forget Lieberman's 'go to hell' remarks
  • Is a right-wing government the answer?
  • Lieberman inches closer to foreign ministry as coalition deal cements
  • Blair: 'There is no alternative to a two-state solution'
  • Netanyahu: Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work
  • Aluf Benn / Will Netanyahu attack Iran?
  • Netanyahu government / Who's who in the new cabinet
  • IN PICTURES / Netanyahu government is sworn in
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    A plague on Egypt
    Report: Iran behind planned terror attacks against targets in Egypt by Hezbollah.
    Determined diplomacy
    Obama: U.S. 'strongly supports' two-state solution, vows to continue peace process.
      1.   Where is the extremism in his conversation? 02:58  |  Jon 02/04/09
      2.   Two States Soon 03:22  |  Andrew 02/04/09
      3.   Lieberman Puts Hamas to Shame 03:50  |  Jim 02/04/09
      4.   Lieberman, I love you! 04:21  |  dudu 02/04/09
      5.   So he`s going to Italy? 04:34  |  Yaffe 02/04/09
      6.   Jon 04:44  |  TonyL 02/04/09
      7.   HAMAS Useful idiots are your heroes ready for mutual peace moves? 04:51  |  PETER SM 02/04/09
      8.   Trying Hard to Prove he`s a Right Wing Jew! Like Most Russian 05:20  |  Monitor 02/04/09
      9.   BIBI & LIBI 05:23  |  Peter 02/04/09
      10.   #2 05:29  |  Analyst 02/04/09
      11.   "If you want peace, prepare for war." says Lieberman... 06:18  |  Esther 02/04/09
      12.   Peace for peace - no land for peace? 06:55  |  Palestinian Brit 02/04/09
      13.   "Reciprocity" Lieberman style... 07:16  |  Esther 02/04/09
      14.   Wow 08:26  |  Matt 02/04/09
      15.   #3 Jim,where is the fanatism? 10:35  |  Hastaroth 02/04/09
      16.   The roadmap implementation never got to square one 10:48  |  Sceptic 02/04/09
      17.   Lieberman should wear the star of David on his nazi uniform 10:49  |  john and the TRUTH! 02/04/09
      18.   are you dudu? 10:52  |  Jean-f. 02/04/09
      19.   Analyst 10:53  |  John , Canadian 02/04/09
      20.   Israel has shown long ago that it not controled... 11:59  |  honest 02/04/09
      21.   Urgent message to the Fraud/Corruption squad 12:20  |  True Zionist 02/04/09
      22.   Before revisionists pop up, more on roadmap square one 13:15  |  Sceptic 02/04/09
      23.   A peace-making speech by the new Foreign Minister 15:01  |  Realist 02/04/09
      24.   I MUST ADMIRE HIM 15:03  |  indrajaya 02/04/09
      25.   Peter SM---Put it on the record--what dothe Palestinians have 15:31  |  Labhras 02/04/09
      26.   Lieberman will soon be irrelavent 20:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/04/09
      27.   Sorry, Mr. Lieberman, but mutual isn`t in shihadist vocabulary 20:31  |  Akiva P 02/04/09
      28.   Sceptic seeks to misinform about `Road Map` #16 21:00  |  Roo 02/04/09
      29.   My, My sceptic, guess roo just blew you out of the water 21:30  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/04/09
      30.   #25..Labhras 21:30  |  Malone 02/04/09
      31.   Esther on Lieberman`s Reciprocity 21:33  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/04/09
      32.   I believe Lieberman will show his soft side,right out of the box. 01:39  |  Sarah 03/04/09
      33.   Lieberman talks like the man in the street ! 01:46  |  Akram Zekaria 03/04/09
      34.   6~Jon Speaking the truth is extremism ! 01:48  |  Akram Zekaria 03/04/09
      35.   28~Roo Did you ever thought that the Settlements 02:10  |  Akram Zekaria 03/04/09
      36.   Lieberman 02:45  |  john and the TRUTH! 03/04/09
      37.   The Road Map`s concept of "reciprocity"... 05:12  |  Johnboy 04/04/09
      38.   #30 Malone--is that meant to be an argument. 17:55  |  Labhras 05/04/09
     Read & React
    Obama team readying for clash with Netanyahu
    Responses: 361
    U.S. reiterates commitment to two-state solution after Lieberman remarks
    Responses: 115
    Biden: Israel would be 'ill-advised' to attack Iran
    Responses: 92
    At least 16 hurt in clash between Bat Ayin settlers, Palestinians
    Responses: 77


    More Headlines
    21:53 Iran: Nuclear talks must be based on 'respect'
    15:06 'Iran behind Hezbollah bid to strike Egypt targets'
    09:07 Obama invites friends, aides to White House Passover seder
    20:53 WATCH: Did Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdullah?
    21:56 Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams meets Hamas leader during Gaza trip
    19:22 'Jerusalem should be capital for the Palestinians and Israel'
    11:13 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    21:23 Body of Israeli killed in Italy quake being flown to Israel Friday
    14:11 Britain's anti-terror chief resigns over arrests blunder
    20:06 Mubarak, Abbas talk Palestinian reconciliation in Cairo
    10:46 Alternative Haggadah / A Holocaust-era version of the Four Sons
    20:55 Shalit friends hold protest seder outside Netanyahu home
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved