Lieberman boycotts Brazil president's visit over Mount Herzl row

"Tourism is what Brazil has"...you should study more about Brazil.

The USA thought they would have a nuclear monopoly. The USSR got nukes in less than 5 years. Then we had 40+ years dancing around managing not to get into a nuclear war. Israel now is the only middle east nation with nukes. That could change in 5 years. Israel would be better off as part of a nuclear-free middle east than having nukes. And the USA would nuke anybody that nuked Israel.

Finally Israel has some leaders that are not willing to bend over for the US. I suppose they'll just have to handle Iran on their own as well.

The mind boggles at this man's actions. How can he possibly be a minister of foreign affairs. He doesn't know a thing about it and is not fit for the job. Only a walking disaster like Netanyahu would appoint him in that position. The sooner Israel gets rid of them, the better.

inspired killer and not a peacemaker Herzyl. He is inviting missles and evil into his country by sitting with the Iranian president who is killing his own people and setting up missles to be used in the western hemisphere.Shame on lulu

with the evil Iranian president who is killing his own people and not pay tribute to a great man of peace is what is backward here. I cancelled a trip to Brazil because of their hosting the Iranian president and will not be visiting their sites. Tourism is what Brazil has and when you sit and eat with evil it becomes a part of you. I hope the Brazilian people get rid of this government fast

in football.

...protocols. Israel has become a thuggish gangster state and its foreign ministry reflects it.

you don't know when he is going to open his big mouth and embarass israel again

never-the-less, he acted properly in this case and only in this case. Sometimes even fools get things right.

"Lula on Monday also announced that Brazil has given its final approval for a free-trade agreement between Israel and the Mercosur bloc"

I am Brazilian. For you, Lula may be a "new thing", but not for me. The connection of his party with the palestininias, PLO, and the Arab is well known. They have always supported them and have been openly against Israel. Lula is no different, but had to camouflage his speech after he got support (unfortunately) from some members of the Jewish community for his campaign. So, let's not be naive. For him, peace means do whatever the Palestinians and the Arab countries are asking for - including his friend Ahmadinejad, who he smilingly welcomed in Brazil. His denial to visit Herzl tomb but his willingliness to visit and leave flowers on Arafat's is an offense. Period. And for that, I am glad that Lieberman has stood up for us.

The Brazilian president is a friend of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Israel continue to scorn the rest of the world, show contempt for the reactions of the international community, call Richard Goldstone a bias scoundrel but you should know better than biting the hand that feeds you. Israel would have long ceased to exist without the US crutch.

at the moment. Netanyahu asks Brazil to help ensure Iran doesn't achieve. Yet the Foreign Minister the person who would erstwile be the first contact if Brazil agreed with netanyahu fails to turn up. Is Avigdor (the nightclub bouncer) Lieberman working to a common agenda of the coalition currently running Israel, or his own?

he must have very small foot, as he keeps on putting it in his mouth in many occasions.

seems that he is UNFRIENDLY with everyone. When Bibi is going to do something about replacing HIM.

bibi has found someone ever more obnoxious than himself, so it makes him look good by comparison

If it pisses off the little man.

Or even for himself, actually. His talk appears to be so enlightened, yet when push comes to shove, his enlightenment fades into obscurity. But he most definitely does not speak for Israel.

Have close to nothing.

Just how brave Lieberman is. we should send him to one of the army'y fighting units he will certaily be there much more EFFICIENT than in his present office. His gesture was just about as signicative as was his right hand's one with the turc. By the way why not closing the embassy in Brazil? it will be even stronger than his absence. AS TO BIBI, WHY DON'T YOU FIRE HIM AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE A NEW COALITION WHITH SOME ONE ELSE ON TOP?

attending to. He hasn't fixed a single favela in Brasil and sent army helicopters to machine gun narco gangs or what is afterwards described as narco gangs but preaches disarmament and peaceful living to Israelis . Rio de Janeiro could be deadly for those wearing rings and watches and venturing outside turist places ,no example for Israel

there's little doubt that lula is more than pleased with outcome of refusing the visit...which no doubt will lead to many other heads of state following suit. think about it...how best to avoid an unpleasant encounter while visiting israel? refuse to lay a wreath at mount herzl!

What a joke, what a farce. And then there's Peres: "It is clear to us, beyond any doubt, that Iran is building nuclear weapons for mass extermination and not for peaceful energy needs." Oh. That settles it then. What a country...

I hope you now see what Lula is really about. You certainly are not aware that high members of his party are neck-deep under investigation for corruption. He has bad-mouthed Cuban activists under a hunger strike, but has spared no compliments for dictators. He's Worker's Party, in Brazil, is like an irritant, perpetually trying to undermine things like a free press. Lula is, in his heart, an authoritarian. The thing is, the people and its deputies don't let them get away with it. Lula has even tried to expel out of the country a journalist of the New York Times (Larry Rohter - google it) because he wrote of Lula's drinking habits.

Netnayahu has a government of ignorant fools. It acts like the board of directors of my synagogue or the resident's committee of my in-laws' old-age home? nothing but grouchiness, gripes and rudeness. The gangster that heads the foreign ministry is too stupid to know that meeting with a foreign leader with whom you have diplomatic relations does not mean you like him or what he says. Gangsters and shtremels: a prescription for distater.

Is there any country whose diplomats and elected officials Lieberman hasn't tried to offend? Just curious why he thinks the rest of the world is the problem.

Hot diggety, the man is aiming for the world record in speed-insulting! Lessee: Turkey, Dubai, EU, the US, Australia and now Brazil! WHo will it be tomorrow? Paraguay? Are you all out of your minds, electing a 5 year old for Foreign Minister?

Is it "smart" to use America's kindness to advance Israel's self-serving narcissitic nature!

but it seems, that their is a "measure bar", every politican/country gets assigned. in fact, they assign it to themselves. this measure bar seems to hang extraordinary high for israel - compared to its neighbours. this means, people have a lot of trust into israels common sense, into their ability to manage things and bring them on the way. to find solutions, to gain stability. the measure bar for iran is below all standards. nobody listens anymore what ahmadinedschad says. nobody takes him any serious. he and his entourage of course realize that, more than "we" do. to fix this, he boasted with "have nuke" recently. yes, true, this makes people listen when the nutter does have now a nuke rocket... in fact, iran is isolated. very much so. they are considered idiots. not by any mean purpose, just because they proved that they are. and maybe, the expectations at israel are just too high. it often seems, people expect them to perform miracles...

I've been to Israel about a month ago. A good friend of mine surprised me with his idea of great statesman that we, brazilians, finally have and bla, bla. I was astonished but not surprised because our president is really world's champion in cheating and giving the wrong idea of himself. A former acoholic and an enthusiastic antisemite, he's a good challenge to your mad dog Avigdor; i don't know who's worst.

Well done Mr. Lieberman. President Lula's refusal to lay a wreath at the grave of Theodroe Herzl's grave is an insult to the state of Israel especially when President Lula will visit Arafat's grave.

Oh boy... the apocalyptic speeches are arising once again. Next thing she's going to say is that Hamas is already holding nukes... You are right Rachel, Iran is not thinking about the future of the region, nor about its long term influence on Arabs. Instead, its leaders are dreaming of one thing: Being brought down while bringing the Israelis with them... Rachel, you are clueless on Geopolitics...

NOT!

Thats funny Lieberman complaining about diplomatic protocal! Hypocracy rules in 21st century Israel!!!!!PEACE NEVER?

Once again you show the true face of spoiled, arrogant, intolerant Israelis, instead putting a pretty mask on Israeli society like Peres or Livni.

Lieberman will undoubtedly be remembered as a skilled diplomat from the class of Talleyrand, Metternich, Winston Churchill and Kissinger... Of all the Ministries, Israel had to give diplomacy to this one. I'm starting to bet this was intentional... what an idiot this bounceman is...

It is high time that someone like you tell israelis the truth and the guts to refuse being used in their propaganda machine. Good job.

Lieberman boycott of Brazil president's speech is like the replica of what happened last week when US Vice-President visited Israel. Such actions will further isolate Israel.

Foreign Minister Lieberman didn't pull any punches, laying right into President Lula for his "dismissal of diplomatic protocols" (a subject on which Israel's top diplomat is arguably up to date).

I have full conviction that the presence of Lula in the Middle East is aimed to pacify, to unite people around the human dignity irrespective of differences.

The world doesn't care about Jews...What did the world do when 6 million Jews where murdered ? Absolutely nothing so the hell with the world..We don't get intimidated by anybody !

Where do you get your facts from ? AlJazeera ?

Sounds great. Nuke free world! Israel will become "nuke free" after Iran, Pakistan, India, GB,USA,Syria,Russia, N. Korea,Chaina and France become nuke free.

he's a real charmer

Can't say it any clearer than that.

Too true, but the current Israeli Government has made alienating the universe it's primary objective. I hope Israelis get rid of the kiddies and replace them with adults.

Just received my Amnesty International today. Human rights atrocities in Chad, Burma,Haiti, the Congo... you name it. They murder each other in their millions in Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan,Burma, Yemen, East Timor, Indonesdia, Iraq,Iran and Afghanistan and that's their own people. Yeh you're right all right "A Nuclear Free Zone" is the solution. The FINAL SOLUTION. But of course why else would you visit this unfriendly shore?

The Bouncer is still offending everyone he can. What a 'foreign minister'! He is intent upon alienating everyone for any reason he can think up.

Brazil should scream louder with LULA, elected with 63% of cotes, end of seconf mandate with 73% of popularity, never has this taken place in Latin America..... the wish of nearly 200 million Brazilians is for a NUKE-FREE humanity , shall this voice be heard by all, Brazil is about peace and NO war-profiteers from anywhere in this planet, Brazilian ones included, should count on Brazil for any more unnecesary bloodshed , count with Brazil for peace, impartial dispute settling, or expect no respect from all Latin Americans, we are for PEACE , Lula speaks for us all . SHALOM, SALAAM .

I never liked Lieberman, but he made the correct thing. I really respect it. Hope Israelis and israel media react as well.

This is an insult to Brazil! That idiot Lieberman doesn't show up because he disagrees with what the Brazilian President might say? Some foriegn Minister. The whole government is an embarrassment to the fine people of Israel.

Some day, if we are lucky, Lieberman will learn to be a statesman. Until then we should expect such recurrences of pettiness, racism and blunders.

Israel has isolated itself from the world (even the US) while Iran is making friends left and right - it seems that people view Israel as more of a threat to global peace than Iran.

No nukes.

TONY, Go Read the NPT statute before you cite your BS. under NPT there are 5 NWS (nuclear weapon states) who are to "negotiate in good faith" towards disarming. So you are wrong, under NPT there are 5 legal Nuclear weapon states. If you didn't sign NPT then you are not bound by NPT and as such your point isn't even comprable in worth to animal feces which poses a use of fertilizer. No one attacks thier nuke sites for several reasons, 1 of them is that Nations are not allowed in to Inspect thse sites. on the topic of North Korea, when it backed out of NPT it should have been forced to give back any and all hardware and exile any and all experts for life. that is what Iran must do if it wishes to stay in NPT, anything less is absolute BS. its a fraud, and I don't know why Iranians, who are proud can accept it on thier honour. unless they like being known as cheats,

ISRAEL NEVER SIGNED NPT, SO F**K OFF Iran did sign NPT, as such people did business with Iran, under the guise of NPT such that they were satisfied that Iran was not devleoping weapons and sold Iran technology. so how about Iran backs out of NPT, but first gives back the technology and exiles any and all persons who have any knowledge of, even the most limited knowledge of, nuclear fission and fusion, which is a result of trading tech secrets a result of Iran signing and ratifying a legally binding treaty. Iran having done so under no durress, therefore deserves no comp. it broke the rules it willingly accepted. Then Iran is free to try and develop nuclear weapons. nothing bans Israel's nuclear power, NOT EVEN NPT. So why must israel compensate for Iranian short comings? That is what a statement like this does, It states that Israel, a tiny nation with little resources isn't even entitled to its HUMAN CAPITAL. IT ISN'T ISRAEL'S FAULT THAT YOUR PEOPLE ARENT AS SMART

Not directly , but via one of the Iranian terror groups that are operating across the ME. After all , Ahmedinagiad clearly declared this ! WHY not believe him? Hitler also attempted (and partially achieved) his ambitions and declarations!

Since you are the only ones with nukes in the middle east, exept for maybe Turkey were their nukes are under US control

No one is permitted to make nuclear weapons. Not being an NPT member does not mean certain attack. Look at Israel, North Korea, India, and Pakistan; no one attacks their nuke sites. No war is ever justified. People create wars to satisfy their own agenda.

Get rid of your nukes. Why on earth you introduced them in the first place is strange, but it's not tolate to disarm.