Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 14, 2009 Tamuz 22, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:34 (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 Maccabiah Travel Week's End Anglo File
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
 (AP)
Share |
Last update - 19:00 13/07/2009
Lieberman: Abbas ups demands as his legitimacy wanes
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Abbas, Palestinian 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was upping his demands of Israel as his legitimacy as the leader of the Palestinians waned.

"As Abu Mazen's authority or legitimacy deteriorates or declines, he raises his demands and toughens his position," Lieberman told Israel Radio, referring to Abbas by his nom de guerre.

Israel Radio reported that he made the comments in response to a recent pledge by Abbas that he would not give up on a "right of return" for Palestinian refugees.
Advertisement

"You need to understand the origin of Abu Mazen's legitimacy," he added.

"When we signed agreements with the Palestinian Authority, we signed with the PA that represented all the Palestinians - today you have Fatah in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], and Hamastan in Gaza.

"Whom does Abu Mazen represent exactly? In the best case scenario, half of his people."

In the radio interview, Lieberman also dismissed a call by the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, for the United Nations to set a deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"I don't think this is the position of the European Union," he said. "This is simply personal: Javier Solana is about to retire, by the end of the year he will quit his position and his replacement is meant to come."

Lieberman added: "Every person before their departure tries to come out with a few declarations, to be remembered for something, to leave something behind. But the fact of the matter is that everyone knows precedents here in the region are not achieved by coercion, but only by direct dialogue between the sides."

PA official Saeb Erakat, for his part, said that Lieberman's comments are inappropriate and unacceptable.

"Only yesterday Prime Minister Netanyahu invited President Abbas to meet him, and today Lieberman says he is irrelevant," Erakat said.

He added that Lieberman is trying to paint a picture as if Israel has no partner for peace so as to avoid progress in the peace process.

The Palestinian President's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said that Lieberman's comments are dangerous and are intended to foil international efforts to advance the peace process.

Related articles:
  • Palestinians reject any U.S.-Israel deal on settlements
  • Akiva Eldar / Obama's settlement talks are insulting to Abbas
  • Envoy to France hid Sarkozy barbs from Lieberman
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    1 in ten get high
    Anti-Drug Authority: 10% of all Israeli youth are regular drug users.
    Higher, stronger, faster
    Opening ceremony launches 18th Maccabiah - the biggest one to date.
      1.   Lieberman: Abbas ups demands as his legitimacy wanes 09:13  |  gideon ben yoash 13/07/09
      2.   Mahmoud Abbas. 09:35  |  C2 13/07/09
      3.   How is "sticking to your guns" a case of "upping the ante"? 09:47  |  Johnboy 13/07/09
      4.   Lieberman comments on legitimacy? 10:22  |  Natallie Durson 13/07/09
      5.   That`s why I voted for him 10:22  |  Carl 13/07/09
      6.   NOT PNA....PLO! 10:31  |  Hanes Bongartz 13/07/09
      7.   Israel at its diplomatic best. 11:10  |  Stephen. 13/07/09
      8.   #4 nutullie and the world of views are not an end in themselves 11:48  |  vhardman 13/07/09
      9.   It`s not just the person, it`s the positions that are rejected 11:49  |  Sam 13/07/09
      10.   Lieberman provides futher proof of his total lack... 11:55  |  Esther 13/07/09
      11.   Lieberman 12:22  |  Iain 13/07/09
      12.   Abbas is no material for Peace ! 12:25  |  Akram Zekaria 13/07/09
      13.   4~Natallie Durson " in line with Obamas views" 12:35  |  Akram Zekaria 13/07/09
      14.   Abbas the "illegitimate " 12:51  |  DT 13/07/09
      15.   The legitimacy that`s really waning today s Israel`s 13:30  |  Dutch 13/07/09
      16.   The fractured Palestinina gvt is the result of Irael 14:15  |  American in NY 13/07/09
      17.   Lieberman Abbas ups demand as his legitimacy wanes 14:29  |  Graziana 13/07/09
      18.   Lieberman 14:32  |  Iain 13/07/09
      19.   Be grateful for Abbas 14:43  |  Adrian 13/07/09
      20.   Oh Dutch! You are wrong! 14:52  |  People of the World 13/07/09
      21.   Abbas waning? 14:54  |  Welshman 13/07/09
      22.   The old `No one to deal with` ploy 15:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/07/09
      23.   If abbas made peace with Israel, his life expectancy 15:49  |  Nechama 13/07/09
      24.   The Arabs that got displaced in 1948 ... 16:02  |  Jasper 13/07/09
      25.   See the Eldar piece in this same Arab paper for confirmation 16:44  |  Nemesis 13/07/09
      26.   He is delusional 16:59  |  Dave Duncan 13/07/09
      27.   Lieberman 17:13  |  Yitz 13/07/09
      28.   #13 - Abbas has no blood on his hands??!! 17:19  |  Sammy 13/07/09
      29.   And What Will lieberman Be Remembered For? 17:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/07/09
      30.   Finally! Avigdor recognized Abbas as ILLEGITIMATE.. 17:57  |  Doghouse 13/07/09
      31.   Did anybody 18:20  |  Axel 13/07/09
      32.   The Holocaust denier and Arabs continue to refuse peace 20:14  |  David 13/07/09
      33.   jasper - the arabs that got displaced in 1948 20:48  |  Sam 13/07/09
      34.   Where`s the truth? 20:56  |  Texan 13/07/09
      35.   Good point 20:56  |  Ron 13/07/09
      36.   Lieberman just playing the old political game 21:16  |  Victor 13/07/09
      37.   18~ Dasper : The RoR ! 21:25  |  Akram Zekaria 13/07/09
      38.   #22 another excuse for not making peace 22:06  |  Ardi 13/07/09
      39.   David from Boston on Jordan/Palestine 22:46  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/07/09
      40.   The Legitimacy Of Palestinian Pharoahs Never Wanes 23:07  |  Jeff Northridge 13/07/09
      41.   Enlightening Jasper #18 01:10  |  Roo 14/07/09
      42.   The next Fatah will not be much different 02:23  |  Jasper 14/07/09
      43.   Abas legitimacy has waned but Lieberman has NO Legitimacy... 05:29  |  one 14/07/09
      44.   I can`t find a thread to participate in. Here I can complain... 08:26  |  S 14/07/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    16:56 Israeli warships cross Suez Canal again
    19:25 Explosions rock Hezbollah arms depot near Israel border
    13:27 Source: Russia won't agree to tougher Iran sanctions
    18:26 Report: Hamas accuses Israel of dumping 'aphrodisiac' gum on Gaza
    16:29 IN PICTURES / 18th Maccabiah Opening Ceremony in Israel
    14:24 Tourists prefer Jerusalem to London and Paris
    19:34 Arrested KKK man turned over to Israeli police by friend
    18:03 Madoff jailed in Atlanta en route to permanent federal prison
    00:15 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    11:54 West Bank fence not done and never will be, it seems
    03:33 Akiva Eldar / How to apply PR spin to the settlement issue
    15:54 British MP Galloway heads to Gaza for further visit
    07:48 IAF jets scrambled against civilian plane feared hijacked by terrorists
    18:25 Jerusalem woman suspected of starving infant son for months
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | 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