Lieberman sends letter to foreign embassies slamming Abu Bluff; Netanyahu silent
Before you jump to conclusions about this story, please keep this in mind. Avigdor Lieberman was once director general of the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister was Binyamin Netanyahu during his first term in office. Avigdor Lieberman was his most trusted adviser.Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has sent a letter in English to every foreign embassy in Israel saying that the best thing that could happen to the 'peace process' would be for 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President
Abu Mazen has three goals right now, which are, in order of importance, to die a natural death, to get credit for the establishment of a 'Palestinian' reichlet, and to reconcile Fatah with Hamas.
Here's some of what Lieberman has to say:
In the letter, entitled "Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Current Assessment," Lieberman reached the "inescapable " conclusion that "no agreement will ever be possible as long as Mahmoud Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, given his preference for sacrificing key Palestinian interests in favor of his historical legacy and personal future."But what's somewhat of a mystery here is whether Netanyahu agrees with Lieberman.
Lieberman's letter echoed comments he made at a press conference on Monday that it would be a "blessing" if Abbas carried out his oft-repeated threat and resigned.
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Lieberman's letter to foreign delegations here – itself a very rare move – was written in English and, according to foreign ministry officials, reflected his views, and not necessarily those of the ministry. The ministry, one official said, was not involved in drawing it up.
Israel, Lieberman's letter read, "has gone to great lengths to build confidence and create an atmosphere conducive" to resuming negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. "In stark contrast," the letter continued, the Abbas-led PA has "adamantly refused to engage in direct negotiations, pursuing an increasingly hostile, confrontational and unilateral approach. This conduct has effectively blocked any possibility for political progress and, if left unchecked, could endanger the vital economic and security cooperation which exists on the ground between the sides."
The letter charged that Abbas was motivated primarily by concerns for his historical legacy and personal welfare, "apparently seeking a dignified exit from the political scene. In this regard, his energies are focused on ensuring that he be seen as the Palestinian leader who led to the establishment of a Palestinian state and achieved internal unity between Fatah and Hamas."
The Prime Minister's Office neither endorsed nor disassociated itself from Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's scathing criticism of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appearing in a letter he sent to foreign embassies in Israel on Wednesday.I'd bet that Netanyahu endorses every word that Lieberman says but cannot say so himself because of what it would do to his relationship with Obama. And I believe that it's at least possible that Netanyahu okayed or even told Lieberman to write the letter. Heh.
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While a source in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Office refused to comment on Lieberman's criticism of Abbas, one government source said that if the Palestinians "want to prove Lieberman wrong, they can do one simple thing – they can agree to a return to the peace talks without preconditions."
The official said that "the fact that the Palestinian Authority continues to raise new obstacles to direct talks would seem to reinforce the foreign minister's point."
Labels: Avigdor Lieberman, Binyamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:51 AM
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