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New Israeli FM Facing Backlash From Opposition

By VOA News
02 April 2009

Controversial remarks by Israel's new foreign minister have already sparked outrage in the Arab world and are now being condemned by members of the Israeli opposition.

Former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said comments by Avigdor Lieberman show the world that Israel is "not a partner" for peace.

Lieberman stirred Palestinian anger Wednesday when he said Israel is not bound by a 2007 U.S.-brokered pact on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that making concessions to the Palestinians will only result in more war.

Livni told Israel Army Radio Thursday that the comments could make Israel irrelevant and called on new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to distance himself from Lieberman's statements.

But Lieberman continued to take a hard line in an interview published Thursday in Israel's Haaretz newspaper.

He said it would be difficult to move forward unless the Palestinians "take control of Gaza and demilitarize Hamas."

Lieberman also ruled out any peace deal with Syria based on an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, saying "Peace will only be in exchange for peace."

Meanwhile, an aide said Lieberman spoke by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday and that the two agreed to meet as soon as possible.

Tensions in the Middle East have been rising since it became clear that Mr. Netanyahu would become prime minister.

Palestinian and other Arab leaders have long been critical of the new prime minister for his failure to endorse a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

U.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed U.S. support for a two-state solution last week.

Mr. Obama congratulated Mr. Netanyahu by telephone Wednesday and said he looked forward to working with Israel on Arab-Israeli peace, as well as on Iran.

In Qatar, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the international community to put pressure on Israel, saying Mr. Netanyahu "does not believe in peace."

The Kremlin announced Thursday the Mr. Abbas would travel to Moscow April sixth for talks with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.