Egypt FM: Settlement freeze first step toward normalization

A freeze of construction in West Bank settlements would be the first step toward normalization between Arab states and Israel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Tuesday.

"Certain countries will be prepared to move closer to Israel if it takes significant steps for the good of the Palestinians, and will demonstrate seriousness and willingness for serious contacts," said Aboul Gheit At the close of a meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos.

The minister's comments came after U.S. government officials said they had succeeded in extracting "pledges" from a number of Arab states to move toward normalization of relations with Israel. The officials, who refused to name the states in question, said that the promised gestures were offered in response to Israel's agreement to initiate a construction freeze.

However, Aboul Gheit cautioned on Tuesday that, "A settlement freeze in the West Bank is not of equal value to normalization, and will not bring this about alone."

Lieberman: Right won't topple government over settlement freeze

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Tuesday that the Israeli right would not bring down the government, and that his own Yisrael Beitenu party would stay in the coalition in spite of disagreements over a planned settlement freeze.

"We won't reach a situation where the right will bring down the right. We are in the government, we are part of the government," Lieberman said.

Lieberman also said that Israel has not and will not discuss a limit on construction in Jerusalem.

"We must make it clear it to the world that building in Jerusalem is not limited is not subject to any sort of understandings, agreements or negotiations - we don't intend to discuss or coordinate with anyone in anyway whatsoever construction in Jerusalem," he said.

Lieberman added that Israel will need to seek a reiteration of the understandings reached with the Bush administration in regard to settlement construction.

The foreign minister, currently on a state visit to Nigeria, dismissed claims that he is not involved in talks with the Obama Administration, telling Israel Radio that he is kept up to date on all details of diplomatic discussions with the U.S. and that next week he will meet with Obama's special Middle East envoy George Mitchell.

Lieberman also stated that Israel has neglected the Third World, and in his meetings with African leaders they asked him "where we've been the last forty years."

	Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
	Photo by: Alon Ron