Egypt boycott of Lieberman pushes off Med Union summit

That option should be a laugh for Benjamin N. And it should not be an option to even consider. Liberman is an integral part of the Israeli Gov and he should be given the same respect. Come on, what do the Egyptians want to make out that they are. A power? I do not think so. The Meeting of the Mediterranean FMs should have gone ahead and forget about some recalcitrant states, it happens.

company given how Egypt banned Israeli cancer researchers from a global conference held by the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation held in Alexandria last week.

Egpyt acts as if lieberman killed his first born. I guess israel has the power to stop meetings except when its at the UN to denounce them for coughing without closing their mouth.

Know what? this summit costed us, the French taxpayers, 17.7 million of Euros! a big thank to Mr Sarkozy!

religious figure repeatedly refuses to even shake hands with Israel's chief rabbi, an an inter-faith conference no less, but proudly announces his refusal to the rejoicing of all Egyptians.

Liberman's comments were over the fact that Egypt's President still refuses to visit Israel even after 30 years of so-called peace. That this same Egyptian government pushed an Israeli book burner / anti-Jew conspiracy theorist as its UNESCO candidate only solidifies Lieberman's comments. The problem here is not with the Israeli Foreign Minister, but the rank and outright hatred that spews from the government in Cairo. If Egypt wants to have a diplomatic temper tantrum then let them go sit in the corner and stew. that shouldn't penalize the rest of the nations bordering the Mediteranian.

"If Egypt have signed a peace treaty, then why Egypt or Jordan dont want to visit Israel?" Simple: those peace treaties were signed under extreme duress, and facilitated with huge bribes. They represent an enormous moral embarassment to both governments on the home front, so they are reluctant to play up the relationship in public.

excuse me, Col Coren, but FM do not go around telling other FM to go to hell in public, it just is not on,no matter how you try to spin it, just tell me how many FM have done this in public.

their superiority either by not talking to Lieberman or just hating Israel.

Colonel Cohen, you're right. Lieberman is the perfect neighbor and the perfect representative of Israel. Clearly anyone who wouldn't want to share some time in this world with him is making excuses. Anyway, what good have the peace deals brought? They should be rescinded so Lieberman and everyone else doesn't have to try to answer your question.

The most 'moderate Arab' governments are more extreme than the most extreme Israeli. Kind of puts things in perspective.

Daniel, with all due respect, this was only a figure of speech that many people uses. Lieberman statement was made in a discussion when he was told that Mubarak visit, so Lieberman said "he could go to hell". Lieberman did not have a conversation with Mubarak & told him to "go to hell",It is a fifure of speech, there was no harm done. The Egyptians will find a million excuses not to visit Israel when requested and they will repeat on that statement for years as an excuse. If Egypt have signed a peace treaty, then why Egypt or Jordan dont want to visit Israel?? This Lieberman stunt is an excuse. For one year it has been repeated. That is pathetic coming from head of states. How could maintain peace with such neighbours??

Lieberman's comments were outside the bounds of official behavior toward a nation with whom one is at peace. The French should be pressuring Israel to send someone in Lieberman's place.

I, too, would not like to sit in the same room as Lieberman. For me, the man represents the lowest and crudest values to be found in Israeli society today.

... to understand that Lieberman has a real talent for annoying people, and is a magnificently bad choice for the head of a diplomatic service.