Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman declared Monday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is an “obstacle” to peace “that needs to be removed.”
In a press conference, Lieberman angrily chastised the Palestinian leader, saying Abbas is leading a campaign to delegitimize Israel internationally, comparing him to the overthrown dictators of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, and urging him to resign.
“He has been threatening to return the keys and resign? That would not be a threat but a blessing, and I wish he would finally do it,” Lieberman said. “Whoever comes after him will be better … there is no lack of Palestinians who studied in the West — educated people with Western values with whom we can talk.”
But Lieberman failed to elaborate on exactly how Abbas is an obstacle to the peace process. Lieberman did imply that Abbas was a terrorist-sympathizer and a racist, charging that he is naming squares after terrorists and seeking a Palestinian state free of Jews.
But it seems Abbas’s only major crime is seeking statehood for his people through recognition at the United Nations, exactly as Israelis did at the midpoint of the 20th century. That is in fact what has led to the recent harsh rhetoric from Israeli leaders, whereas they seemed much more contented while the peace talks were stalled and failing.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top aide to Abbas responded: “Lieberman is an enemy of peace and he should be condemned by every rational voice in Israel. If this position represents or reflects the policy of this government, that means that they intend to wage a political war. The Israeli government should apologize for what the foreign minister said.”
Lieberman is known as one of the more extreme figures in the Israeli government, in part “because of his support for redrawing Israel’s borders to push areas with heavy concentrations of Israeli Arabs out of Israel and into Palestinian jurisdiction,” as the Washington Post reported. “He also launched a failed effort in parliament to force Israeli Arabs to take a loyalty oath or lose their citizenship.”
The US is still engaged in a diplomatic push at the UN to pressure the Security Council to vote down the resolution recognizing Palestinian statehood. Meanwhile, Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are pushing for other sorts of diplomatic leverage at the UN, prompting Israel and the US to issue threats to defund the UN.
YOU, sir (Lieberman) are obstacle to peace! I am SICK of hearing that anyone who disagrees with Lieberman or Netanahu are "deligitimizing Israel!
Translation: "I, avigdor, am an obstacle to peace."
Correct. The sociopath always accuses others of his own behavior.
No one needs to delegitimize Israel. With its claims of moral superiority and simultaneous oppresion of the Palestinians, Israel has completely delegitimized itself. It is impossible to look at Israel and the US blanket support of all she does and not see glaring hypocrisy.
Lieberman should be afraid. The cry of "A free Palestine for free Palestinians!" will soon be a world-wide rallying cry for everyone who values freedom and justice.
Israelis live in a parallel universe, where all the laws of the world don’t apply to them and every crime they commit is ok. They believe that all others are ugly and dumb and that Israelis, being the chosen ones are beautiful and bright. Go look in the mirror Mr Avigdor Doberman.
All he knows is his chosen profession of night club bouncer and thug. He just wants to throw the Palestinians out of the nightclub. A lot of people in the US declare Islam a terrorist religion and all adherents murderers and criminals. With Zionist as examples, Judaism risks being tarred with the same brush. Lieberman is a bully, thief, and child abuser and star of Israeli politics.
all we need to do is get rid of Arafat then we will have peace…..
Israel is the criminal terrorist state with full American support.America can't hide the fact they are criminal and a terrorist nstate also.Terrorism in the dictionary is described as-the employment of violence and intimidation to achieve political aims.Terror is described as-1 extrem fear or dread 2a person or thing that causes terror b-an exasperation or troublesome person-3 Reighn of terror.Now witch countrys are the terrorists here.