Lieberman: Israel's gestures to Palestinians met with 'slaps in the face'
FM tells Haaretz that while Israel had made countless gestures, all it got in return from the Palestinians was 'the glorification of terror.'
By Merav MichaeliIsrael's many gestures to the Palestinians have been reciprocated by "slaps in the face," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday. Speaking to Haaretz by telephone from Japan, Lieberman said that "we took the unilateral step of deciding on a moratorium, a construction freeze in Judea and Samaria. We recognized two states for two peoples. We removed a dramatic number of roadblocks."
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Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. |
| Photo by: AP |
He said that "I think we made countless gestures, and what did we get in return? The glorification of terror." He added that "the day before Israel's acceptance by the OECD, [Palestinian Authority Prime Minister] Salam Fayyad approached dozens of countries with a request to sabotage that acceptance. They keep going on with their stories about war crimes during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. After all, [PA President] Mahmoud Abbas himself called and asked us, pressured us to continue the military campaign and overthrow Hamas."
Lieberman insisted that no agreement exists to freeze construction in East Jerusalem, that the United States has not dictated anything to Israel. He called the issue "a misunderstanding."
In response to the statement yesterday by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch that the police will continue to demolish illegal homes in East Jerusalem despite the proximity talks with the Palestinians, Lieberman said that "there is one law for everyone, and we can't disobey court decisions."
With regard to Fayyad's statement that a Palestinian state would be established unilaterally in the summer of 2011, Lieberman said that "I'm not interested in what Salam Fayyad declares. His pronouncements are not aimed at establishing a Palestinian state but rather to augment his political power."
Asked whether he had met recently with Fayyad, he said "No, God forbid .... I don't think now is the right time for talks."
With regard to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's meeting with the head of Hamas' political wing, Khaled Meshal, Lieberman said that "it's not new, but it's certainly an escalation, and we certainly see it as a very negative step."
Mr. Lieberman, is there no agreement to freeze building in Jerusalem?
There is no such agreement.
The Americans are lying?
Well no. Look, I think this is simply a misunderstanding. We aren't being contrary with anyone, including the Americans. We're not being contrary and we won't accept any dictates. The ordinary processes of life go on and we're not going to interrupt them.
But if the Americans come out and say there is a construction freeze, could it be that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised it to them and you don't know anything about it?
No. I think Bibi explained that there are procedures that will take such-and-such an amount of time and we'll go along with the acceptable things; it will be now just like it was before.
A representative of your party Yisrael Beiteinu, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, has announced that the police will continue to demolish Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem despite the proximity talks. Do you think this is the correct action to take?
It's hard for me to comment on something I haven't heard about while I'm in Japan, but there is one law for everyone, and we can't disobey court decisions. Usually in such a ruling it's only possible to carry out demolitions after all the appeals are over. I don't believe there is an enlightened country in the world that will say it doesn't want to carry out court decisions. Again, we are not being contrary, but no one expects us to interrupt our lifestyle and stop obeying court orders.
There is a court order that has been renewed time and again: to demolish the settler building in Silwan, Beit Yonatan. And it is not being carried out.
I think that every court order should be executed, and I've also been questioned about East Jerusalem and why Jews are building there. I asked one simple question in return: Let's imagine that the Israeli government decides to forbid Arabs in the eastern part of the city from buying or renting apartments in the west; what will they say about Israel in the enlightened world? That we are racist, an apartheid regime. But no one can imagine the Israeli government forbidding Arabs from East Jerusalem from living in the west. Today there are thousands of Arabs from the eastern part of the city living in the western part, and we don't see any problem with that.
It's a problem to equate private individuals with a country's takeover of disputed land.
Listen, we can't forbid anyone ... it's impossible that the Israeli government will forbid Jews of all people from building or buying in East Jerusalem. With all due respect to the proximity talks, they can't stop the processes of normal life.
That is, from your point of view, there's no room to make a goodwill gesture with regard to these talks?
I think we've made many gestures and all we've gotten in response are slaps in the face. As you remember, we took the unilateral step of deciding on a moratorium, a construction freeze in Judea and Samaria. We recognized two states for two peoples. We removed a dramatic number of roadblocks and allowed Fatah to hold a conference in Bethlehem.
Cooperation with Tony Blair led to [economic] growth of 8 to 9 percent in Judea and Samaria, while the rest of the world was in crisis. I think we made countless gestures, and what did we get in return? The glorification of terror, streets named after Yihyeh Ayash and Dalal Mughrabi. And they try to incite against us and cut us down in every international forum.
The day before Israel's acceptance by the OECD, [Palestinian Prime Minister] Salam Fayyad approached dozens of countries with a request to sabotage that acceptance. They keep going on with their stories about war crimes during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. After all, [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas himself called and asked us, pressured us to continue the military campaign and overthrow Hamas. And how many days later did he complain to the International Court in The Hague? And they keep on doing this.
How do you feel about Fayyad's announcement that he is working to unilaterally establish a Palestinian state?
I'm not interested in what Salam Fayyad declares. His pronouncements are not aimed at establishing a Palestinian state but rather to augment his political power. It's no secret that there's a lot of tension between Salam Fayyad and Fatah, and it's clear that all his pronouncements are meant to build his personal position, and political power for Salam Fayyad. It's clear that he has a lot of political ambition and he has apparently started to come out publicly and build a position for himself.
Which means you don't believe that a state will materialize?
He no doubt knows better than anyone that it's very much not worth it to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state. It's obvious to him, and he is aware of this better than you or me. He only stands to lose from such an event.
Why? Even if Europe recognizes it?
Never mind, he's on top of things and believe me he's very well aware of reality and there's no reason to think he'll act unilaterally.
I don't see what he has to lose.
The moment he starts unilateral actions, we will too, and it's obvious that on balance he will lose.
What kind of unilateral actions?
There are enough, we have a large arsenal of steps, you don't need examples.
Annexing territory?
Never mind, but believe me he knows for sure.
Wow. Have you spoken to him yourself?
No, God forbid.
Why 'God forbid'?
Because I don't think now is the right time for talks.
The prime minister says that Iran is trying to provoke a war between us and Syria. What do you think about this statement?
It's nothing new. The Iranians are always trying to tell Syria directly, and by passing on lies through Hezbollah, that we're going to attack at any moment. There's no doubt that they are happy that the attention given to their nuclear developments is moving on to a quarrel between us and Syria. I think the penny has dropped for the Syrians, too, and they understand these tricks.
It's not in the Syrians' interest?
No, definitely not.
The strategic affairs minister has mentioned that a military option exists to deal with Iran. How close are we to this?
I think there is no need to talk about any military option, and the Iranian problem is not Israeli, it's a problem for the entire world. But we definitely need to keep this option on the table. I expect first of all for clear and tough decisions by the UN Security Council.
That's the best way, there is an understanding now, and a readiness on the part of the international community. I hope we can reach this understanding at the moment of truth, which is clear to everyone right now.
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... with a stout length of planking
is the middle finger!!
... sorry, what "gestures" were those?... I must have missed them in the rush of "gestures" that israel has been handing out recently... "
Better to be slapped in the face than to have checkpoints, segregated roads, unlawful detentions, unemployment. Throw in the fact that your house is bulldozed on top of your head, your land taken for security zones and given to settlers all the while saying you want peace. Your lucky its a slap and not a full on waged middle east war that your population will surely not be able to handle or stomach.
go back to where you came from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your interview with lieberman is excellent. Kol Hakavod. I am very hopeful of the Fayyad initiative, and maybe it wil be like Ben Gurion in 1947 when everyone was telling him not to accept the small spageti that Partition was giving him, he said lets start building the state, litte by little, and is still going on......... I encourage you to maintain yourself on this topic. Toda rava. Enrique
Palestinians must be kept as far from the State of Israel as possible. I've been in Israel as a Christian Missionary and fell in love with Israel and the Israeli people. Fish spoils from its head and so palestinian leadership. Jerusalem is undivided Capital of Israel.
Palestinians must be kept as far from the State of Israel as possible. I've been in Israel as a Christian Missionary and fell in love with Israel and the Israeli people. Fish spoils from its head and so palestinian leadership. Jerusalem is undivided Capital of Israel.
i think it is about time Israel stopped making 'gestures' for peace and actually take the bull by the Horns. the Palestinians will not 'eat' gestures. When you take my $100 bill, all i want from you is to return it to me immediately. I dont mind how many 'gestures' , or 'steps', or 'processes' you make, and i dont need to respond to them . i just want my $100 back!!
. . . to the Palestinians has been the middle finger. Israel has demonstrated nothing but hatred and brutality toward Palestinians, and this simply because they won't quietly walk away and abandon their ancestral lands to Jewish immigrants. This is the essence of the dispute in Palestine.
This behavior ensures that the day will come when Arab Palestinians have nothing left to lose.
Who would be afraid of the enemies that surround Israel. He may not have the charisma,but he sure as hell makes the points clear in his interview what the crux of the matter is.i.e The intransigence of the Palestinians who seem to pursue in the same way as Arafat had.Even the fellow Fayyad does not seem worthy while some of us praised and approved of him a few weeks ago. .And now? That smidgen of trust has disappeared. We have said it before,they are all a bunch of disorganized,inept and not worthy mincing words but telling it as does FM Lieberman loud and clear.If some do not like him,I understand,for it suits them not.They prefer mild mannered bowing down to the pressures put on to Netanyahu,via Obama and now the meddling of the Russians,plus Turkey's Gul and Erdogan,the latter have now joined the Islamists. No wonder Turkey has not as yet been accepted into the EU. There ends my thoughts for the day.
"...Lieberman said ... we can't disobey court decisions." ... Ha ha ha - no, but in the case of illegal setttlements we can delay them FOR YEEEEARS ! I.e. forever !
This guy is undermining the little credibility that Israel still has in the world. How is it possible that he is in this position? Amazing and very sad!
Yes his views may be considered "extreme" by some, but he's not lying about the inherent ungratefulness of the "Palestinians." If Israel keeps making gestures--none made by the Arabs or PA so far--and gets shot down by Abbas, why is Israel always to blame?
No one is going to acccept this Israeli terrorism against the Palestinian people daily at gunpoint in the West Bank and E.Jerusalem and along the border of the Gaza Strip. As the American international legal scholar John Quigley wrote in his book Israel/ Palestine, A Challenge to Justice , while many may dispute whether the 1967 war was indeed a self defense measure- no one accepts the Israeli army's con- tinued presence in the territories and the build up of illegal settlements in violation of the 4thGeneva Convention. And of course this position was unanimously up- held by a fourteen justice panel at the Hague in 2004 . The justices said Israel would have to withdraws its forcesand dismantled and indeed 'void " all its structures in the territories... Now that ruling hasn't changed and it won't and it has lent itself to an international movement to iso- lation and punish Israel by a world wide boycott and divestment programs. So Israelis will pay for this--dearly. Dutch So much for Liberman's own glorification of Israeli terrorism. It is absolutely monstrous compared to Palestinian terrorism and no one is missing that comparison today......
How can anyone in Israel listen to Lieberman without gasping?
How can anyone in Israel listen to Lieberman without gasping?
As long as Israel acts as if in a position of weakness and tries harder to appease terrorist than to establish peace they will receive the same response. Arabs do not respect Israel for offering peace, they see this as a sign of weakness to exploit and an invitation to make more terror.
Lieberman's statements are fiction based on a desire to justify abuses of the Palestinians. He panders to the most vile side of humanity with a righteousness that defies logic.
This Foreign Minister provides , to Israel ,a poor international images in front to the civilised countries.
This is what Lieberman's summarizations of the situation amount to. He directly answers no questions, he skips over citing any examples of gestures that have worked (or, for that matter, actual agreements/settlements), and he lampoons the image that Israel is the victim here. Sorry, but your country agreed not to expand nor support expansion into the Palestinian lands when you signed the Camp David Accords, nevermind the half-dozen other accords, summits, and negotiation talks other countries have had to set up to get you to reach agreements. Yet, you do anyway. Are the people necessarily this way? Who can say. But it doesn't take much to see the position of the government on this matter.
I'm afraid there are more Arabs than Jews agreeing on that.
He is dedicated to undermining, in the most undiplomatic ways, any chance that Israel has to survive as a democratic Jewish state. His comments about Abbas' alleged phone call to Israel during Cast Lead were loathsome. Anyone who believes that Israel can survive on the basis of military superiority is suffering from delusions. This is 2010, not 1967. Only if there is peace will the country will do well.
He is dedicated to undermining, in the most undiplomatic ways, any chance that Israel has to survive as a democratic Jewish state. His comments about Abbas' alleged phone call to Israel during Cast Lead were loathsome. Anyone who believes that Israel can survive on the basis of military superiority is suffering from delusions. This is 2010, not 1967. Only if there is peace will the country will do well.
Does he really believe himself what he is saying? It is such a collection of transparent lies. He should be asked the question: As a Moldovan, do you and your family have rights which an Arab born in this country does not have? Is it easier for you to get a building permit in Nokdim than for an Arab in Sheik Jarreh or Beit Hannina?
It is hard for writers on this site to devour a clear air discussion . It is hard to hear that Arabs once in a while are very wrong , it is hard to admit that all this unrelenting Israel bashing will not bring results if Arab intransigence is not tamed . But it will get even harder for this site to defend Arabs if one will clearly tell them that refusing every offer will hopelessly set them even further back .
Lieberman is obviously out to sabotage the peace process; he is not even trying to hide his intentions, so must have the backing of his government to act this way. His speech is so crude and blatantly full of lies and distortions that no that no one could doubt that he is a genocidal monster who will do anything to destroy or expel the Palestinian people. This man is extremely dangerous for Israel and the world. He is trying to incite Palestinians and the whole ME to violence. The world has to stop this madman before he goes any further - exclude him from any dialogue with countries worldwide, ban him from conferences. He will eventually have to go if Israel wants to have any connection with the international community. If Israel really wants peace, get rid of this monster.
If there had been a few hundred thousand people of Liberman's caliber,the Holocaust as we know it today couldn't have happened. The person above who is posting,is probably a wicked & terrible being. Monster is too kind a word for him/her.
Lieberman is obviously out to sabotage the peace process; he is not even trying to hide his intentions, so must have the backing of his government to act this way. His speech is so crude and blatantly full of lies and distortions that no that no one could doubt that he is a genocidal monster who will do anything to destroy or expel the Palestinian people. This man is extremely dangerous for Israel and the world. He is trying to incite Palestinians and the whole ME to violence. The world has to stop this madman before he goes any further - exclude him from any dialogue with countries worldwide, ban him from conferences. He will eventually have to go if Israel wants to have any connection with the international community. If Israel really wants peace, get rid of this monster.
Arrests and house demolitions are not slaps in the face, but complaints about the Gaza operation are? What world does he live in?
Arrests and house demolitions are not slaps in the face, but complaints about the Gaza operation are? What world does he live in?
lieberman=israels downfall
but it needs to be said. Netanyahu cannot say it, at least not as bluntly, so his bulldog says it for him. Useful to have such a bulldog. Pals seek every opportunity to hurt and damage Israel and incite hatred among their children, while at the same time seeking the assistance and co-operation of Israel. It should be a two way street if there is to be movement towards peace.
countless gestures or countless settlements, not too sure what the FM is talking about.
They keep going on with their stories about war crimes during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza ..... what about you you just keep on and on and on with your story in germany .....what about that ?!
But meanwhile, many provocations are made that councel the "good will" talk-gestures so the gestures never have to come true. However, Israeli government has a big board on which all the talk-gestures are written down, so they never forget to mention how many gestures they made. When a mankind reaches the technological means that allow it to go out of its solar system, it must have found and entered the "Kingdom of Heaven" which is a total respect for the living and for the humblest ones. If it has not found the "Kingdom of Heaven" in God's Instruction, then it is pledged to destruction. Only those who found the "Kingdom of Heaven" will be taken to live in a place that deserve to be called so, a place where gestures are acts, not only talks...
There are SO many candidates. One could vote for "we have to obey court orders" or the chutzpadik assertion that Palestinians must but settlement products. What's your favorite?
... protesting that the Pals are not buying cosmetics from the settler factory... perhaps she was concerned that Pals don't have much to celebrate these days....
He doesn't at all appear the extremist that his (and Israel's) bashers pretend him to be. Actually, his arguments sound to me true and rational, even though not always politically correct (but are his bashers?). And as we know, the truth hurts, expecially to those who can't stand when Jews defend openly and straightforwardly their rights and interests.
ILLEGAL acquisition of territory OUTSIDE of Israel's Sovereign boundaries. Justifying an illegal action is NOT defending a 'right' because there is no right by any SOvereign State to illegally ac
What did he say that was even remotely accurate? What concessions has Israel made? "we took the unilateral step of deciding on a moratorium," Not a cessation of illegal settlements, mind you. A "moratorium." Translation: We'll keep the Yanks happy for a few months, then quietly restart our blatantly illegal settlement building. "a construction freeze in Judea and Samaria." It is the West Bank, you racist, religious zealot! Biblical claims have absolutely NO bearing in the 21st Century. "We recognized two states for two peoples." Yet have done nothing to make that Palestinian State a viable reality. In fact, you've done all you could to undermine the process. "We removed a dramatic number of roadblocks" Which were built on stolen Palestinian land in the first place. Concession my ass. This "man" is a snake, and should not be in any way, shape, or form, a representative of the country that bills itself as the only democracy in the Middle East.
One who reads this article and agrees with liebermonkey in even the slightest way, is not a person who deserves one's time. Glad you keep good company loser boy.
An extremist will not look like an extremist to an extremist. You are "out there" with him. The truth is Lieberman was a bouncer/terrorist before he became a politician and he still is. I know, truth hurts!
The little ease on the occupation crimes that Lieberman has to show off is the result of US pressure and certainly not a change of heart by Israel's F(acist) Minister.
which countless gestures? if there are countless, why Lieberman isn't able to cite some of?
He did. You need to read the entire article.
Lieberman continously sabotaged the peace talks and is trying tho sell now the fairy tale of Israeli "gestures".
while Palestine goverment made countless gestures, all it got in return from the Israli govermnet was 'the glorification of terror.' i think this the right order
What "gestures" have the Palestinians made? They continue to incite hatred and glorify terrorism.
what gestures has lieberman ever made to the palestinians? is he coming out of a confusing dream? has he not ever maintained that building in jerusalem should never stop? has he not said that there would not be any peace with the palestinians for at least twenty years? if he wants just one single gesture he should bring israel beyond the green line.
liberman is not afraid. he is not afraid of obama, nor of iran, nor of the arabs, nor of the russians. he knows his enemies and he speeks the truth. liberman is not politically correct, but israel cannot survive on the politicaly correct.
... but he is no more than a blinkered bull rushing through our lives and our politics... at our peril...
he is not g-d, but he is not the devil either. i do not see him as the preening liberal elites do. i see him as a good counter-point to the vain obama. i also see him as a strong presence in the face of iran. i do not always agree with him. however, at this juncture, i like having him around. i understand why the elites fear and loath him. thankfully, i am not one of the elite.
Cipora couldn't have said it better myself. Our FM has sttong convictions on Fayyad that we thought he was worthy,and now he is giving Israel a slap in the face.As if we aere not aware he would anyway.Are they not all same side of the coin? As for Syria, Iran,Obama he knows exactly what their motivation is and will not bow down,especially to his interlocuter who was trying to gauge what Lieberman would admit or not. Out FM is a very astute politician and I am so glad we've got him. Satisfaction all around as far as I am concerned.
I am not one of the elites either. I am a lifelong Zionist. I fear that in a generation or two the Zionist dream will be dead; and a bi national state will take it's place. This causes me great pain. People like Lieberman and diaspora Jews like you are leading us off this cliff. Future generations of Jews will condemn you for your blindness. You are like a "friend" who not only lets their friend drive drunk, but gives them the keys, and tells them to have a good time.
No, he is not God, nor the Devil. Mr. Lieberman is just the representation of racist Zionist policies. He and his follower should be seen for what they are, right wing zealots who think their needs are more important that the those of the Indigenous people of a land once called Palestine.
The only people who should fear and loath Lieberman are true Zionists who know he is a disaster for Israel. The elites in the rest of the world do loath him; fear him? hardly -he's a clown, but a dangerous clown for Israel
Hi, Cipora, Many concur with his views ,but hide behind a cloak of secrecy. Let's say ,the same thing was said under a different name. I'm sure many more would support his line of thinking. Anyhow it's good to have him around these days,putting the lie to Arab propaganda.
He hasn't made any that are conducive to peace. He has sown only scorn and hatred and we are reaping a bitter harvest indeed. That's much more than a slap in the face. Every single Jew who thought Zionism was a peaceful, respectful home-coming has a broken nose, two black eyes and a mouthful of broken teeth. Unfortunately the Palestinians, in this particular case, are right. Bibi cannot deliver with this coalition. No way.
to begin with Israel could be the first and only country to recognize the Pal state.
what this fascist said is nothing new of his Zionist demeanor, what is he actually saying:" if we retracted some of our terroristic collective punishment to innocent occupied Palestinians, we expect (the Zionist occupiers) the Palestinians to let go of their rights to fight for their own existence, replace their collective memory, and start seeing the issue via Zionist glasses " indeed, what this idiot wants us to do, is like the slaves to be thankful to the master for his "generosity" allowing them to go for a picnic on a Sunday afternoon. Shame on the world, shame this is what I call an attempt to grand theft of a people's right of dignity and humanity in all sens of the word.
The Palestinians have done very little for themselves and very lttle for the world interms of dignity and humanity
If they did, your pin-head politicians wouldn't be making statements to torpedo the talks. Israeli hypocrisy just shows how moronic the current Israeli leadership real is.
Most Israelis do want peace. But those who have gained and held power through occupation do not. And they have managed to convince many Israelis that peace is impossible, that 'we have no partner for peace' that the palestinians are inhuman monsters who cannot be reasoned with... for that is how they keep their power.
You might be right, but neither do the Palestinians. They simply want the whole of Israel for themselves.
You might be right, but neither do the Palestinians. They simply want the whole of Israel for themselves.
power was gained through free elections. the majority of Israelis seems want Liebermann and friends to rule them. are you suggesting the Israelis are too stupid to see that Netanhayu will never bring peace? or do you think that peace can be obtained without giving anything back to the Palestinians? not even an inch of Jerusalem?
by not going out and opposing it. Instead we shut off, never go near East Jerusalem or the West Bank and hope those who think peace is impossible and do everything in their power to confirm that will evaporate all on their own. We will rue the fact that we have not shouted loud that we do not accept their arguments or fought tooth and nail for that peace. Yesterday in Jerusalem I had an illuminating discussion with an angry young man, eyes brimming with hatred. "They are all murderers," he hissed, pointing at Palestinians who live on a sidewalk because they have been evicted and their houses allocated to the likes of him. "How do you know?" I asked him. "Because it says so in the Torah was his response. They are Bnei Yishmael."
This thug Lieberman shows his true face here, and by extension, the true face of all the Israelis that support him. To a sorry extent he exemplifies what Israel has become. The world is not fooled by this kind of contemptuous black is white lying. It's all captured in this exchange: "...no one expects us to interrupt our lifestyle and stop obeying court orders. There is a court order that has been renewed time and again: to demolish the settler building in Silwan, Beit Yonatan. And it is not being carried out. "
Bibi declares something outrageous... and on the morrow Yvet endorses it times ten over...
Lieberman's words would be comedic if not for the tragedy. Stopping some, but not all construction that is illegal in the territories he views as a concession. Dismantling roadblocks that are unnecessary for security, he views as a concession. Allowing Palestinians to be treated something more like humans, he views as a concession. Accepting a Palestinian right to exist, he views as a concession when he doesn't view the Palestinian acceptance of Israel's right to exist as a concession. And he thinks it is impossible to ask that Israelis obey the Geneva Conventions on acquiring land that IS UNDER Occupation. Though he does use the words Israeli and Jew synonymously, they are not synonymous terms. Does he understand the difference? If this is the prevailing Israeli political view, there is little hope for any resolution of the conflict, ever.
In 1967 - after the war - British Foreign Secretary George Brown was asked in Tel Aviv on his view for the future of Middle East. He said: "I see no solutions only consequences." Nothing has changed since that time...
Many claim that the Israeli FM is an extremist. I read this article carefully. It is not the ideology of an extremist at all, rather the view of a political realist.
When will the Israeli leaders realize that their soft approach with the world is perceived as weakness. They give back territory and get hostility in return. They bend over backwards to show their democratic politically-correct understanding; in return, countries around the world accuse Israel of various negative crimes, while overlooking arab/palestinian hostilities. As a result, focus is on halting construction in Jerusalem, instead of returning Shalit! A perfect example of how Israel Should act: Karzai threatens the US that he will join with the taliban. He is received by Hillary Clinton & praised by Obama. Meanwhile, Netanyahu was snubbed by the US. As the American baseball player Leo Durocher said "Nice guys finish last".
to show their democratic politically-correct understanding". you mean, israel is trying its utmost to bend the palestinians' backs and knees time and time again. the whole world knows about israel's lies.
Stop repeating palestinian rhetoric. Time and again, it has been proven how Palestinian propaganda has manipulated and distorted the truths. If palestinians wanted peace, they would not shoot rockets after obtaining gaz;, they would not kidnap Israelis. Palestinians cannot even recognize Israel. Just more repetitive nonsense to try and shift the blame from themselves. It's time to stop hiding behind false statements: Do you want peace with Israel, or do you want to destroy the Jewish state, and claim it for yourselves? Just answer the question directly (I bet you won't).
... he is Bibi's official spokesman
First, the Palestinian homes that Israel keeps demolishing are not and can not be illegal outside of Israel´s perverse legal system, because the rights of the people building them to do so have been recognized by international consensus. The expansion of the illegal settlements, on the other hand, which are always preceded by the expulsion of the land´s original Palestinian inhabitants, has -- once again, outside Israel´s perverse legal system -- never been legal. Lieberman knows this, and he knows that the Israeli government doesn´t have to forbid a single settler from building in East Jerusalem to put a stop to it. If he was serious about preventing further land theft, all he´d have to do would be to make it clear that neither the IDF nor the Israeli police would protect any further illegal settlements in Jerusalem or the rest of the occupied territories. Without the military power to terrorize the native inhabitants into submission, the settlers wouldn´t dream of stealing more land. The only reason the illegal settlement programs continue is because they are supported by the Israeli state.
Most comments on this one are on one side and most thumbs are down. Seems the other side has no argument and is left to simply give it a thumbs down. Just an observation
Mr. Lieberman, It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, then to open it and remove all doubt.
That is just the problem, from bitter experience those who have been watching, including the Palestinians, it is all too clear that the behind the gestures is - nothing.
I don't think he has one ounce of humanity. So, why give him the stand?
The Palestinians already have three nations - Jordan, PA, and Gaza. That they have made of sewer of the latter two (PA, GAZA) is their own fault. That they have not made a sewer of the first (Jordan) is to the credit not of the Palestinians, but of the Hashemites.
Well, Israelis also have many countries from which they came from! At this point it is all about reality on the ground, so please comment on something constructive such as advancing a peace settlement as opposed to building settlements.
My dear salvador, Israelis come from Israel!!! The former leaders who came to build this magnificent country did indeed come from Europe where they were persecuted. Jews did not live outside israel outside Israel out of choice but through forced exile.
It may be, indeed. Do you think it has something to do with Israelis colonizing most of the hilltops around Palestinian towns, holding 94% of the water resources and that gravity makes fluids go top-down?
It may be, indeed. Do you think it has something to do with Israelis colonizing most of the hilltops around Palestinian towns, holding 94% of the water resources and that gravity makes fluids go top-down?
Most Jews are citizens of many countries and they are first class citizens who mostly control the economies and the political seens especially in Europe and the Americas. The palestinians are second class citizens in the three nations mentiond
In order to be a supporter of Israels right wing (95% or the nation), you must have the capacity to believe anything, with no reservations. It could be a form of self hypnosis. At any rate, it allows them to say the most outrageous things without raising an eyebrow or cracking a smile. In fact, they get downright hostile when nobody else believes them except other like minded Israelis. The main problem in Israel is that people are so far removed from reality that they think that things are made true or false simply by them making some self serving statement. It used to be irritating to observe this common phenomenon, but now it is only sad and pathetic. Lieberman would be much better suited as the minister for stupid remarks.
saying the "most outrageous things without raising an eyebrow or cracking a smile" is your very own specialty. long ago you had foretold the killing of abbas, which you assured us you would welcome with one eye smiling and one eye crying. more recently, you claimed, without cracking a smile, that israel had 12,500 nuclear warheads. you relied on non-existent declassified cia documents for this cannard.
The biggest single insult many Israelis off to Palestinians is to ignore their individuality, their humanity, and to fearfully treat them all as terrorists. Ms. Durson takes a parallel approach in saying that 95% of Israelis are right-wingers. I suspect that she knows better).
Actually, I am surprised that Abbas is still with us, but he did turn against Israel after he was not rewarded for his actions against Hamas. As for the warhead numbers, they were posted by a fake. I noticed them as well. I will rarely err on posting established facts and figures. As for Lieberman, you should know better than to support this man as Israels face to the world. I won't even bother to list the reasons.
Perhaps not 95% yet, but it sure seems that the decent Israelis are fleeing Israel nearly as fast as the radical right wing extremists are flooding in.
I do not support that man, nor do 95% of Israelis. We should all cease to generalize for effect. Our politicians provide enough foolishness of that sort, we ought not to add to it.
"I will rarely err on posting established facts and figures." "Israel has killed more civilians then anyone since 2006" Not true - Pakistan in swat, Sri Lanka, many conflict in Africa, US in Afghanistan. The "fakes" are your "get away with BS" for free card
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is speaking about clear facts. I am sorry the truth hurts. When the Palestinians stop believing there own lies the Palestinian people not there leader ship would be better off. There leadership lies in order to stay in power not to improve the quality of life. The p. authority is lawless. Executing there own people with out fair trial (FACT)
most of these comments appear so anti-israeli gov., that one would think they came from cambridge or oxford. the 'pals' are certainly being fooled into thinking that their leaders are actually capable. what did king david sing? '...why do the heathen rage...'? i think they rage because '...they know not whom they worship...'
As Usual. He calls it the way everybody sees it. All the people who are opposed to him are truthless hypocrites.
Even those who hate him, have to admit that he's right on target on so many issues. He's the best FM Israel has had in a very long time. G-d bless him.
liberman, throwing palestinians out of their homes, claiming that jerusalem--including the east--is not up for dispute, and continuing to build up illegally occupied territories are not "gestures of peace". get over yourself, man.
Please refrain from using them all in the same sentence. The world sees libermonkey as a complete imbecile, and who of all people do you agree with...yep, an imbecile. Way to go for you genius.
Please refrain from using them all in the same sentence. The world sees libermonkey as a complete imbecile, and who of all people do you agree with...yep, an imbecile. Way to go for you genius.
He is no help to Israel, the palestinians, the ME, and the world. He is a loser that bibi had to pick if he wanted to be the PM.
Lieberman as good for Israel as Bush jr. for the US...
...and bibi Israels Rumsfeld LOL :-)
Morons like you, don't like a Jewish person who tells the terrorists or obama lackey's where to go !! Good for Lieberman, put the morons in their place !!!!
israel is always punished for doing the right things The "pals' are the darlings of the lefties,and they can do no wrong...The whole situation is slanted to sactisfy the OIL MOGULS AND FOR THE LEFT LEANING GOVERNMENTS TO SHOW TO THEIR SUCKER PEOPLES HOW THEY HELP THE UNDER DOGS AND TO APPEASE THE islamic warlords.ALL THE COWARDS,APPEASERS AND CRAZY LEFTIES ARE UNITED AGAINST THE TRUTH AND ISRAEL
Israel's gestures towards the Palestinian's couldn't possibly be more insulting! Good faith? What imagination!!! Hate monger Lieberman claims they get nothing in return but slaps in the face... all they have offered is insults to the US and to Palestine, with their continued provocative comments about building in East Jerusalem, and then claims that they have made magnanimous gestures of good faith! Are they using a different dictionary?!?!?
no matter what, they will twist everything in a way that shows they are the victims... but i hope the world will wake up one day.
In regards to Lieberman's claims, you ask whether Israel is using a different dictionary than America and Palestinians. Well, the world is chockfullof different people's dictionaries... The problem is that some of them are much less civilized than others. Like say, Greeks present behavior in a crisis vs. the Irish one .... The same applies to Lieberman vs Abbas. Except, THEY BOTH ARE UN-CIVILIZED!!
I say kudos to our fearless Lieberman for telling it like it is,and not acting like shrinking violet. I am not going to indulge in comparisons pertaining language. Why should Lieberman use flowerly language when dealing with "thugs" and their languge that needs "thugish" in response tfor counteraction.? No point being philosophical S just honest to goodness straight from the shoulder speech is quite appropriate.
Arab's have been doing this even prior to the state of Israel. Have You seen the size of Israel? Have you seen the size of the Arab world? Now tell me who is the bully!
you got it wrong again jack.
"we took the unilateral step of deciding on a moratorium, a construction freeze in Judea and Samaria. We recognized two states for two peoples. We removed a dramatic number of roadblocks." - Lieberman How come Mr Lieberman you call the west bank judea and samaria if u recognise the 2 states solutions? I mean really, Palestinians should forget occupation, land confiscations, house demolitions, gaza siege, thousands killed and jailed, settlements and settlers violence, and be grateful for the generous and dramatic gestures mentioned above.
Just like Muslims call Y'rushalym Quds, we call "the west bank" Judea and Samaria, as its the area's name and mentioned in the bible and how he's gonna call it is completely irrelevant to Liberman's position on the 2 state solution.
Pals don't want to end IDF presense, because of the immediate Hamas or Hezb infiltration. No country will recognize the Pal state,except some Arab countries, that will not be of help to the Pals. A Pal state will not be able to annex Jerusalem. A Pal state cannot absorb millions of refugees. All Arabs will leave right away.
The EU and the US will more than likely recognize a Pal state if Israel continues to drag its feet. And since I do not foresee Israel changing its tactics, welcome palestine to the world.
The reason there is no unilateral Palestinian state (and never will be) is because there is no such thing as a 'Palestinian'. Palestine was the name the Romans gave to the region. The correct name is Phillistine--the current occupyers of the ancient Phillistine territories are nothing but Arab trespassers. Why don't the other Arab nations take care of their own? Because almost all the Arab states are muslims and muslims HATE Jews--its in their religion (kill all the Jews). Why should the muslims settle for anything less than the extermination of Israel? If they can wait it out, there will be no need for a 'unilateral' state--gaza and the west bank will be the 'unilateral' state. Now do you understand?
I agree!!!
he states look after all the gestures this Likud coalition has done, what type of response do they get with no continuation of peace talks by the PA. But then he's asked if he would talk to the current PM Salam Fayyad and he responds, " God forbid". What does this mean when even U.S. President George Bush met with Fayyad two years ago? One thing for sure, I'm not used to Israel having this type of foreign minister. Here's a metaphor: When my father would come home from the supermarket and having CHOSE the wrong type of parsley or bought something she had already bought, my mother would yell at my father, (you know over-reacting Iraqi-Israeli Jews) for not inquiring about grocery needs. You know, trivial matter. So he'd respond in Arabic, " A sha yakuka lechwasi ?" - which translate, " Should I tear my clothes?" - a sign of Jewish mourning. That's what I'm thinking about the current diplomatic impasse!
It would be truly miraculous if Mr. Abbas was serious about peace with Israel - if he would bother toning down the amazingly hostile rhetoric against the state of Israel (that reminds one of the old Soviet Pravda official news service). Ah but this is only a reminder(to anyone with any intellect) that the problem in the Israeli-Arab conflict is primarily one of political reform - yes and I mean in the Arab world...
Withdrawing from Gaza and uprooting 9,000 of its residents and then doing the same in northern Samaria, forcing a disconnect between people and their homeland.
The 9000 resident could have stayed there if they agreed to be Palestinian citizen, sworn elegance and recognised Gaza as a Muslim state.
1. they'd all be butchered and you know it. 2. Hamas and Fatah refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, so why, in such a scenario you mentioned, would we recognize Gaza as a Muslim state?
9000? Big frickin deal! And you have the gaul to mention disconnect from one's homeland. Millions of pals fled or were forced out and you talk disconnect from their homeland. You are a racist moron and need not be here.
Gaza is only a small part of the territories of the non-state entity of Palestine
For Starters, Giving back Gaza, A foolish move. What gestures have the Arabs EVER made ?? EVER, just ONE please ????
I agree with you. However, Israeli didn't stop building Illegal settlements in the West bank and Jerusalem willingly, Israel was forced to freeze settlement activities by USA for a short period of time.
It unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, uprooting thousands of Israel settlers. It got thousands of rockets in return.
Do you not read? Fox news aint the truth Matt
And stepped up the blockade and bombardment of the Palestinians inside. Deaths from the "thousands of rockets" - 8. Deaths of Palestinians in Gaza since the so-called withdrawal - thousands.
If you think that Qassams are so harmless, why don't you go to Sderot and try catch one?
#2 the freeze never froze watch any human rights web site they still are evicting arabs from their homes
...that after all not really rockets. Americans can make such things at basic rocketry class, take a look at any run-of-the-mill hobby catalog... But let's look at the numbers. Israel claims "thousands" of rockets pouring down and wreaking havoc, and yet, out of those "thousands" of "rockets", hardly a one of them ever actually hits anything. Usually they land in scrubland, hitting no one and nothing but a barren piece of ground. I submit that the militants aiming of these rockets is far far better than anyone has yet admitted. Given the numbers, it is far more likely that if anyone got his by one of these "rockets", it was merely a stray. I don't think those rockets were ever aimed at civilians. Otherwise even with their crudeness, the militants would have had far more hits than just a few strays.
You commit the crime, you pay the piper. Hopefully one flies up your keester and real soon.
There is no 'west bank'! There is only Israel.
How can anybody disagree with your view ??? Are these folks determined to let us believe that Qassams are harmless ?? Amazing... People only see what they want, so long as it opposes Israel.
Are you including in your figures the thousands of dead terrorists, who wake up each morning to murder. Because that is the majority of the dead you mourn, terrorist filth.
How can anybody disagree with your view ??? Are these folks determined to let us believe that Qassams are harmless ?? Amazing... People only see what they want, so long as it opposes Israel.
YOU LOST IT. You attack a country, and lose, YOU MUST FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. Tough, your leaders are to blame.
rhetoric, empty rhetoric, Abdullka. War crimes are Black September in Jordan ( 20,000 your people killed by Jordnainas in one day), city of Hama in Syria ( 30,000 killed), civil war in Lebanon ( 150,000 Arabas killed Arabs), Iran-Iraq war - 1 mln dead, civil war in Algeria - 120,000 killed - these are war crimes. I guess for you they are not! as not Jews or Israelis are involved. And - THIS IS NOT YOUR LAND. Your land is Arabia not Judea, hence the names.
There is law,regarding war and land gained, and the right of return for refugees, its Israel that wont abide by the law.
Really? Law? Why is it that every person who speaks on Arab-Israeli conflict immediately becomes an expert on "internationa; law ( I have yet to see its code) and behaves as if they're apponited a council for prosecution? Apprly this law to any other country, please? Or you don't have enough expertise once it's not Israel? Like UK, France, Syria, Turkey, Iran, or - not ibterest fro you?
it might be nice to mention that all your above stated warcrimes have been happening after 1948, when a land was given to you ( Jewish/Israeli's) as a gesture. With your empirialistic attitude you have been responsible for dispossesing a large number of people with no place to go. the Palestinian/ israeli conflict is the core problem of international diplomatic crisis and all you state above are consequences of that. Take some responsibility, instead of reacting like a spoiled little kid
FIrst,all the above stated crimes have nothong to do with Israel;they were committed in Jordan,Algeria,Syria etc.Second,the land that was given to the Jews was not a "gesture"-it was the land of our ancestors.The so-called "Palestinians" are nothing more than Arabs,like the other Arabs of the world.And finally,if giving a small tiny piece of land to the Jews to create one Jewish Israel state is a "gesture",what is "giving" most of the Middle East to the Arab to create 23 Arab Muslim states?
the Palestinian's 'right of return' not to mention those considered refugees after 3 generations and over 60 years, there was never such a thing in history. Not to mention it's entirely unrealistic to inject millions of hostile people of different culture into a state. Where would they live? eat? work? Such a thing would never be accepted in any future deal, they're just using it as a bargaining chip that they'll remove that in exchange for something else.
...cutting right to the chase, there is no 'right to conquest' - Israel was born far too late. You should learn about the bedrock principle 'territory acquired by war is inadmissible'. Until you internalize those two things, your contribution to this debate and towards any meaningful peace is nil. Zilch, nada, ZERO.
So did Israel just LIE when it said it will relinquish 22% of internationally recognized Palestinian land according to UN Res 194, in return for getting admitted into UN?
So, you come to a country in the 7th century, steal the land by warfare from the remanant of the people that are living there, sojourn in it off and on for 12 hundred years, abandon it (since 1850 a.d.) and then whine and cry about it since the rightfull owners reclaimed it with world-wide approval. You are Arabs. Your land is Edom. Your are trespassers--Go Home!
The UN Resolution 194 accepted the establishment of the State of Israel under the condition of the Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees to their cities and villages where Israel had controled. Do you understand Johnt-a ?so accept R194 to establish Israel but refuse the Right of Return for those who were terrorized , murdered, and kicked out of their homes. Very nice !!!
The UN Resolution 194 accepted the establishment of the State of Israel under the condition of the Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees to their cities and villages where Israel had controled. Do you understand Johnt-a ?so accept R194 to establish Israel but refuse the Right of Return for those who were terrorized , murdered, and kicked out of their homes. Very nice !!!
thank you for serving as the quintessential example of the sort of blissful palestinian ignorance which has plagued your people, prevented you from statehood, and which will continue to prevent you from ever having a state until such time as you change your outlook and add more than a little introspection
'giving most of the middle east to the Arabs to create 23 Arab Muslim states" ??? that i even do the effort of commenting on this... i am quite curious on which planet you live, have you heard about recent history or is history for you only something that happened 3000 years ago?
'giving most of the middle east to the Arabs to create 23 Arab Muslim states" ??? that i even do the effort of commenting on this... i am quite curious on which planet you live, have you heard about recent history or is history for you only something that happened 3000 years ago?
What do you mean by "so-called 'Palestinians' are nothing more than Arabs, like the other Arabs of the world?" The natives of Palestine, who have lived there for centuries, have created an ethnic identity quite different from that of Syrians, Iraqis, Egyptians. Even the languages are different, Egyptian Arabic is not Yemeni Arabic. You have not an iota of knowledge of history, ethnography, linguistics. Who are the "ancestors" of the Jews? Can any European Jew prove that s/he had a forefather who lived in Judaea/Palestine 2.000 years ago? How do they know whether or not they are of converted stock? Who are you to decide who the Palestinians are and where they should live?