Lieberman orders staff to boycott UN envoy

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has instructed ministry employees and military officials to boycott UN Envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov, Channel 2 reported yesterday.

According to the report, the orders were issued after Mladenov criticised Israeli policies on settlement construction and towards Palestinians.

Mladenov had previously said that Israel’s policy of illegal settlement expansion was a primary obstacle to peace. He added that there had been “a surge in Israeli settlement-related announcements and continuing demolitions.”

In response to his comment, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his comments “distort history and international law and distance peace.”