MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the right-wing opposition party, explained that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s and President Shimon Peres’ need to apologize to Egypt for his remarks may be compared to a “battered wife”, who returns despite the repeated abuse.

Lieberman was referring to his remarks made in Knesset last week, telling Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to “go to hell”, adding that it has been three decades since Israel and Egypt has signed a peace treaty yet Mubarak refuses to step foot in Israel. Israel on the other hand continues her “subservient” attitude, expressing a willingness to continue visiting Egypt to accommodate Mubarak while he will not make an official visit until Israel correct the injustices “against the Palestinian people”.

In an appearance on Israel Channel 2’s Meet the Press, Lieberman pointed out that during a major recent military exercise in Egypt; Israel is still portrayed as the enemy. He also cited the continued weapons smuggling from Egypt into Hamas-controlled Gaza. He questions the so-called Egyptian efforts towards maintaining mutual diplomatic relations with Israel.

Lieberman was critical over the fact that political leaders in Israel ran to apologize to the Egyptian leader to avoid a political row, adding that in reality, his remarks did not demand such a high level response.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)