Saturday, May 21, 2016

Palestinians: Lieberman in Cabinet Means No Israeli Partner for Peace


Jack Khoury, haaretz.com

Image from article, with caption: Avigdor Lieberman arriving to a coalition negotiations meeting, May 19, 2016.

The hard-liner's pending entry to the government 'is a message to the world that Israel prefers extremism, the occupation and settlements to a peace accord,' the Palestinian Foreign Ministry says.
  • To preserve his rule, Netanyahu willing to stomach even his greatest political rival
  • Israel now torn between rule of law and rule of ruthless power
  • With Lieberman as defense minister, Israelis should head for the bomb shelters
  • Netanyahu and Herzog’s blessed road not taken
Excerpt:
PA President Mahmoud Abbas' office and the top PLO leadership refrained from formally responding to reports of Lieberman's expected appointment, noting they would wait until the decision is formal.
But a senior Palestinian official didn’t hide his disappointment from the move, while also noting its public diplomacy potential for the Palestinians.
"There's no doubt that his appointment will serve us regarding the international community on a public diplomacy front. Lieberman, aside from his diplomatic positions and what he thinks of Palestinians, is also a settler, and so this is more proof to the international community that the emerging government, including the one leading it, isn't interested at all in an agreement. Therefore the world must stop reprimanding and take the initiative that will lead Israel to an agreement," he said. ...

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