Israel Matzav

Lieberman slams Obama on Iran and 'settlements'

In an interview that's not likely to win him any friends in the White House, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has slammed American President Barack Hussein Obama for his policies on Iran and on Israeli 'settlements' in Judea and Samaria.

He lambasted the West for not giving more support to Iranian reformists. "This really fanatic extremist regime is still in power, and the young people who are ready to fight and die for change are not getting any real support from the West," he said. "The fact that this regime continues to be an acceptable partner for dialogue is really a bad message. It shows the bad guys are winners."

Lieberman also criticized the Obama Administration for demanding that Israel halt construction in Jewish settlements inside the Palestinian territories, saying it is a "mistake." He added, "We are trying to formulate some understanding with the U.S. We don't speak [with the Americans] of building new settlements. We don't speak of expansion. We try to build only within existing construction lines." In quiet but forceful tones, Lieberman said, "We cannot suffocate our own people. You know, babies are born. People get married. We cannot stop life. People want to build a synagogue or a kindergarten."

Lieberman also claimed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was part of a broader "clash of values between civilizations," and that it was not the key for bringing peace to the Middle East, as many believe. "With 9/11 and terrorist acts in London, Madrid, Bali, in Russia, I can't see any linkage with the Israeli-Palestinian problem," the Moldava native told TIME, speaking in Russian-accented English.

Incredibly, Time decided that Lieberman has 'tempered his views' and almost makes him sound 'moderate.' Yes, we all knew already that Lieberman favors a 'Palestinian state,' but perhaps it's not so bad if the world knows it as well.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:08 AM