Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu launches global charm offensive

Yisrael Beiteinu officials have launched a public relations campaign to tell the United States, Europe and the Arab world that there is nothing to fear from Avigdor Lieberman's initiative to add an oath of allegiance to Israel's Citizenship Law.

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Italy, Gideon Meir, warned the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem that the Arab countries are conducting a campaign to demonize Lieberman in Europe. Meir called for special PR work to be devoted to this issue, as the Yisrael Beiteinu leader might be appointed to a cabinet post in the government Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to form.

During his election campaign, Lieberman called for an amendment requiring citizens to take a loyalty oath.

Yisrael Beiteinu's PR efforts are being spearheaded by Israel's former ambassador to the United States, Daniel Ayalon, who is number seven on the party's Knesset list. The right-wing party is the third largest faction in the new Knesset, following Kadima and Netanyahu's Likud.

Ayalon has met in recent weeks with a number of foreign envoys in Israel, including those of the United States and Britain, and has spoken with officials from several Arab countries.

Ayalon presented Yisrael Beiteinu's platform, including its plan to separate Israel and a Palestinian state by exchanging territories and populations. Ayalon also explained the party's thoughts on the amendment to the Citizenship Law, saying it was not intended to harm the Arab population.

In two weeks, Ayalon is to take Yisrael Beiteinu's case to the United States with the number two on the list, Uzi Landau, and number 12, Hamad Amar, who is Druze. The three are expected to meet senators and congressmen in Washington and New York, as well as State Department officials, heads of Jewish organizations and the media.

"After they meet us and hear what we have to say, they'll understand Lieberman is not a monster," Ayalon told Haaretz yesterday. "In many ways we represent issues that are close to Americans, such as a constitution, a presidential system and an oath of allegiance to the country."

Lieberman met yesterday with U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, who ran for vice president in 2000. The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman said it was important to act quickly against Iran's nuclear program. "If we want a peace process we have to work first against Iran," he told the senator.

The Yisrael Beiteinu chief also explained his party's ideas on the oath of allegiance to the state. The senator asked whether the initiative was only directed at Israel's Arabs, and the Israeli answered that the oath would be required of Jewish citizens as well. "We intend to take all international parameters into consideration and to draw on similar laws in other countries," Avigdor Lieberman said.

Lieberman is expected to receive a ministerial portfolio in a Netanyahu government, perhaps foreign affairs, if a narrow coalition is formed.

Ambassador Meir, meanwhile, said that in a recent public event in which he took part, the ambassadors of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority compared Lieberman to Hamas and the Iranian regime. Meir said he responded that in contrast to Hamas, Lieberman never sent suicide bombers to blow themselves up in the heart of civilian populations.

"I am bringing up the issue because it is gaining momentum and therefore we must prepare ourselves with a response and go all out against the campaign developing on this issue," Meir told the Foreign Ministry.