Israeli FM hardens stance on settlements

Israeli President Shimon Peres (L) with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as the foreign minister visits Peres in the president's Jerusalem residence on Monday during a reception held by Peres on the occasion of the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashana, for foreign diplomats. Lieberman has said that he does not expect peace with the Palestinians "during this generation" and commented that the building freeze in the West Bank must be lifted on schedule later in September. (EPA)

By AGENCIES

JERUSALEM: Israel sent conflicting signals on Mideast peace moves to the world on Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting US congressmen it was possible to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians in a year, while his foreign minister said his party will try to block any extension of Israel's settlement slowdown, a move that could derail the recently launched peace negotiations.

Avigdor Lieberman said the government must keep its promise to voters that the 10-month slowdown, declared last November under US pressure in order to draw the Palestinians to the negotiating table, will end as scheduled at the end of the month.

The Sept. 26 deadline is a challenge for the fragile talks launched in Washington last week. The Palestinians say they will quit the talks if settlement construction accelerates, but not ending the slowdown could potentially bring down the Israeli government. Netanyahu has yet to say how he will handle the deadline.

“A promise is a promise,” Lieberman told Israel Radio. “We will not agree to any extension. I promise that if there's a proposal that we don't accept it will not pass.”

Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party is a key member of Israel's governing coalition, which is led by Netanyahu's Likud party.

It holds 15 seats in Parliament, making it the second-largest member of the coalition and giving it the ability to rob the government of its parliamentary majority if it pulls out. Other coalition partners, and members of Netanyahu's own party, also favor resuming construction.

Speaking to diplomats in Jerusalem on Monday, Lieberman said the stated goal of the talks — a peace agreement within one year was unrealistic.

On the other hand, Netanyahu told the visiting US delegation that he "believes it possible, through such direct and contiguous negotiations, held without breaks or delays, to achieve a peace agreement within a year".

Netanyahu said he thought a goal of the Quartet of Middle East power brokers — the US, European Union, United Nations and Russia — to agree on the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel was attainable, his spokesman Nir Hefez said.

The Israeli government says construction in settlements continued during previous rounds of peace talks, and that building does not compromise a future deal.

Lieberman's party ran on a platform that questioned the loyalty of Israel's one-fifth Arab minority, and Lieberman, known for blunt and often unpredictable language, is perhaps Israel's most polarizing politician. A resident of a West Bank settlement himself, he has absented himself from active involvement in the peace talks, which are being conducted by Netanyahu's office.

Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, a prominent member of Netanyahu's party, said extending the slowdown would pose a “huge danger” to the coalition.

“Within the coalition, there is a huge majority against it,” Shalom told reporters late Sunday. He said the issue could only be resolved through negotiations.

Comments

E.H.ANSARI

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Howlong, Israelis will continue to kid uncle Sam and the world.

DASTAGIR

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Even a moron can understand, that Israel is not committed to any peace deal with Palestinians. The so-called peace talks have been going for years under US pressure, but never brought any good for Palestinians. President Abbas is not a able leader. Lieberman's words are real, and it is foolish to believe that he is talking without the knowledge of Netanyahu. This peace talk is only to fool the world.

TAHIR KHAN

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Any one who believes that Israel wants peace with Palestinians and would allow the creation of State of Palestine, must also be believing that Pigs fly and Santa Clause exists.
This peace effort led America is just a lip service provided by Americans. It waste of time. America does not want to see the creation of State of Palestine, it goes against the teachings of Bible.
My advice to Arab News, cover news articles which a worthy of coverage, like the hunger in Africa or flood from Pakistan.

MICHAEL BLACKBURN

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The Arabs will never agree to peace. They don't want peace, they want all of Israel.

MUSLIM

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ISRAEL NEVER STOP THEIR ENCROACHMENT. MAY BE THEY HAVE NEW PLAN BEHIND THE SCENE TO TORTURE PALESTINIANS.PEACE TALKS WILL BE OF NO USE AGAIN.ALL ARAB WORLD AND MUSLIMS SHOULD UNITE AND END ISRAEL OCCUPATION IN PALESTINE.
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