Lieberman: Israel's only dispute with U.S. is over settlements

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told reporters in Washington on Thursday that Israel's only dispute with the United States is over the issue of West Bank settlements.

"There are many issues currently discussed by the United States and ourselves, at least 20 different points, and I think that we agree on 19 of those points," Lieberman said when asked about differences between Israel and the U.S. on settlements.

"So we can disagree on one issue, since both sides want to reach an understanding on that as well. No one is interested in deepening controversy, both sides are interested to find an agreed-upon formula, and we will reach an understanding."

Lieberman was speaking a day after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

He also repeated Thursday that Israel had refused to stop accommodating for "natural growth" in West Bank settlements, rejecting a demand to do so by United States President Barack Obama.

"We are not prepared to strangle our own people," Lieberman said, a day after making similar comments in the meeting with Clinton.

The foreign minister did, however, say that Israel did not plan on changing the demography of the West Bank by constructing new settlements.

In the meeting Wednesday, Clinton said that a total settlement freeze was an "important and essential" step toward achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Later Thursday, Lieberman said that Israel wants to see Iran's policy change no matter who emerges as president after a series of street protests over a disputed election.

Israel has played down the chances of seeing any regime change in Tehran despite the demonstrations over hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declared victory over moderate Mirhossein Mousavi in Friday's presidential poll.

Asked by Channel 10 television who Israel would prefer to prevail in the Iranian contest, Lieberman replied: "What is preferable for Israel is for there to be a change in Iranian policy."

He insisted "Iran is much more dangerous" than North Korea, whose recent nuclear weapons tests triggered world alarm.

Lieberman also urged the West to impose stiffer economic sanctions against Iran to halt its nuclear development, similar to the measures pressed against Pyongyang.