Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is viewed as a political hawk, is now signaling a shift to the left as that nation heads to general elections. A poll released on 29 Kislev shows Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party down from 13 seats to 7, perhaps the compelling factor for his effort to portray himself as being more centrist than hawkish right-wing.
Lieberman presents his master peace plan which includes uprooting yishuvim. Interestingly, Lieberman himself resides in eastern Gush Etzion, in the isolated community of Nokdim (El-David). Lieberman explains the time has come to put an end to the conflict and measures must be implemented to reach agreement with nations in the region.
The senior minister explains that once agreements are signed, more funds can be allocated for research and technological development.
“We must reach a diplomatic agreement, not because of the Palestinians or the Arabs but because of the Jews. When there is a deterioration in relations we see what happens to the economy. I can give an example that is very close to me – what occurred in Russia. The more developed a nation is the more sensitive it becomes to political decisions or to fluctuations in economic relations based on agreements and charters”, stated Lieberman.
Lieberman adds that while he respects Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, nothing is taking place today and “There is the status quo and we are pulling in one direction or another” but he feels the lack of progress is harmful. “There is no initiative” he explains, adding that his plan is the more correct path to follow at present.
He reminds us of his land exchange concept, which he says should have been implemented back in Camp David II or the Annapolis talks. “This is the solution as I see it and we will have to uproot isolated yishuvim. We uprooted Gush Katif. In this instance there are solutions and I am less concerned here”.
Lieberman has spoken of the need to swap land in a peace agreement, which he feels must include turning over the Nachal I’ron (Wadi Ara) area in northern Israel, which is home to Israeli Arab municipalities such as Um el-Fahm for areas of Yehuda and Shomron. The land swap in his view will include the Israeli Arab residents of those areas becoming residents of the PA (Palestinian Authority).
Arab Members of Knesset have rejected the plan outright, with MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi calling it “delusional”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Look into Israel’s history, when ever somebody was under investigationthey turn to the left then try to appease him. #Sharon
1. Anything in Gush Etzion is by definition not an isolated outpost.
2. He never said annex the West Bank. No Hiddush. he’s just emphasizing different parts of his platform.
3. Given the unwillingness of the Israeli “right” to compromise on conscription of hareidim (and Leiberman’s party is very anti-hareidi), the next government will be a “centrist” coalition and he wants to package his program to make sure he fits in.
3. Most Israeli Arabs are quite happy being Israelis. Based on numbers they elect 20+ members of the Kenesset, and the majority they choose belong to zionist parties. The radical anti-zionist parties do poorly among them (and one probably should NOT count Hadash as anti-zionist, since it includes Jews and strongly opposes an Islamic state).
What a shoteh
If this man is serious he is at best dangerously naive, and at worst a self-destructive groveler. How did he ever get as far as he got??? Where he is drawing parallels between Russian politics and culture, and those of the Arabs!? to use a metaphor for the two nations (and too bad if i am collectively assigning a national mentality, but the Torah talks about it too): You cannot compare a bear and a depraved savage. Two different creatures. And let’s add to that, that I think his assessment of the Russian political trend is also naive and inaccurate. Just because you come from somewhere does not make you a natural expert on the region, nor on any other region for that matter. Somebody better speak up about this character. The gullible masses need to be educated about his folly before he convinces any of them to follow it.
Another Leftist in National Cloths. Moshe Feiglin it the only trustworthy leader