Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has expressed his opposition to the Saudi peace initiative which enjoys widespread support, explaining the clause providing Arabs the option of collection compensation or returning to Israel under the so-called Palestinian right of return would spell the destruction of the Jewish State. Lieberman states the Saudi plan is a recipe for the destruction of Israel.

Interestingly, while the minister has come under fire for his statements, his position is shared by a majority of the nation as well as elected officials. The previous administration also opposed permitting Arabs to return, explaining it would result in unacceptable and fatal demographic realities. Former PM Ehud Olmert’s predecessor, Ariel Sharon, was also opposed.

Lieberman’s statements contradict the new American administration and are resulting in somewhat of a diplomatic turmoil ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s first meeting in the White House, scheduled to take place in May.

Lieberman is quoted in a Russian newspaper as saying peace will be determined by Israel’s decisions, not America, and “America will accept whatever decision is made by Israel”.
Speaking to the daily Russian Moskovskiy Komosolets, Lieberman stated that despite the general consensus, the major threat facing Israel is Pakistan and Afghanistan, not Iran. “Pakistan is nuclear and unstable, and Afghanistan is faced with a potential Taliban takeover, and the combination form a contiguous area of radicalism ruled in the spirit of Bin Laden,” Lieberman said.

“I do not think that this makes anyone in China, Russia or the US happy … these countries [Pakistan and Afghanistan] are a threat not only to Israel, but to the global order as a whole.”

He stressed Israel’s desire to improve relations between Russia and Jerusalem, adding Russia is underplaying its potential role in the region. He pointed out that Russia maintains a special relationship among Muslim nations and as such, Moscow has the ability to become a major partner in regional policy.

Back to local issues, the foreign minister addressed questions dealing with the Annapolis Understanding and Roadmap plan, explaining the two-state solution is a nice slogan but in actuality, it lacks true substance.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)