Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was interviewed on Sunday on KAN Broadcasting, speaking about the attempts to reach an agreement with Hamas, the internal Palestinian conflicts and the dispute with Naftali Bennett, which did not seem to end in an arrangement.

“The interest is security and quiet – any other initiative is irrelevant,” the defense minister said of the talks with the terrorist organization that controls Gaza. “We are not talking to Hamas, but we will not tell Egypt or the UN that we do not want to talk to them. We need to be smart.”

Regarding the closure of the Erez Crossing, Lieberman said that a link must be made between economic benefits and security calm: “The Erez crossing was closed due to violations of the border arrangement. We must create a direct link between economic benefits and security quiet. Since then, I have been trying to conduct a direct dialogue with the public in Gaza over the heads of Hamas leaders.

“In light of the progress made in the talks between Israel and Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar, in anticipation of the cease fire that is expected to take place contrary to the opinion of Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah, the PA reiterated their position that the entire cease fire in Gaza must be carried out through the PA,” Lieberman said.

“Abu Mazen is trying to deteriorate relations between us and the Gaza Strip,” said the defense minister, who added, “It is not our struggle, it is not our business. They are trying to drag us into the internal Palestinian conflict”.

Bayit Yehudi party chairman Minister Bennet responded in an interview with Yediot Achronot: “Lieberman’s words are surrender to terror which will lead to war.”

Lieberman responded, stating, “Bennet is not talking security but elections and party politics of the lowest kind. Before sending soldiers into battle, we must exhaust all other possibilities”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)