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Lieberman: Regional settlement will not be hostage to resolving Palestinian issue

June 13, 2017 at 10:02 am

Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks at the 53rd Munich Security Conference (MSC) at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany, on 18 Februrary, 2017

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday that resolving the Palestinian issue will not be a condition of a regional settlement and normalisation of relations with Arab countries.

Speaking at the meeting of the Knesset caucus on a diplomatic vision for Gaza Lieberman said peace agreements were signed with Egypt and Jordan without ending the Palestinian conflict.

Lieberman blamed the Arabs for instability in the Middle East and promoting conflicts between Muslims:

When I look at how the Palestinian Authority is being conducted I see no sincerity, no real preparation for negotiations and a political settlement with the State of Israel. All I see is an attempt to manipulate us into a corner and hurt us as much as possible in the international arena. There is no intention of reaching any agreement, just putting all the burden on the State of Israel, all the blame, at best, reaching a long-term interim agreement.

“I have a clear strategy; development in exchange for demilitarisation,” Lieberman said remarking on his vision for the Gaza Strip. “The key here is patience, determination and consistency.”

“I have no intention of initiating a military operation [in Gaza] nor do I intend to ignore any provocation,” he said, adding that he would respond forcefully to Palestinian attacks from Gaza.

Read: Lieberman insists Israel does not want war with Gaza

Image of Israeli border policemen in the West Bank on 22 March 2017 [Wisam Hashlamoun/Apaimages]

Image of Israeli border policemen in the West Bank on 22 March 2017 [Wisam Hashlamoun/Apaimages]