These US cables were unencrypted and handled by the US STate Dept unprofessionally. So the article should really focus on how inept Amb. Jones was and an embarassment to the United States. There are likely other cables his office handled ineptly that will endanger lives.

Lieberman's normal, sane, down to earth, concrete, reality based, realistic and patiotic feelings are well known. He has always supported a strong Jewish Israel with as few Israeli Arabs as possible. He supports, just like me, an oath of loyalty to Israel. These are no "news". These are old news. Regarding Egypt giving land to Gaza: That I didn't know. But Lieberman is right. Israel hasn't got much land. Egypt is enormous. Lieberman makes sense. The only thing I don't like about him is that he is way too soft for my taste. He is one of few politicians albeit his strenghts and weaknesses and limitations as a human being - limitations that Netanyahu, Barak, Sharon, Olmert, Livni etc all have - one of few sane, normal and truly courageous patriotic Israeli politicians that will tell it like it is and stand up for Israel. I predict that on a long term basis Israel Beiteinu will outperform Likud and that Israel Beiteinu will be Israel's equivalent to Republicans and Likud will be the equivalent to Democrats. Since the Israeli left will soon be gone with the wind, since Avodah/Labor is dying out, and since most likely Israelis will grow tired of Meeretz and Kadima, it means that the conservative parties will grow in size and power. If Lieberman is a "stern" nationalist then the American ambassador is an imperialist foreigner meddling into my country's affairs. Where Israelis live and construct their homes and what our borders will be like and where they should be is none of America's got damn concern. America's concern goes from the east coast to the west coast - and involves Hawaii and Alaska - that's it. USA will stick to its internal affairs and its borders and Israel will stick to its borders and affairs. Enough with foreign meddling in our domestic affairs. True allies do not interfere with each other's integrity, independence, sovereignty, borders, air space, waters or domestic policies. God Bless Israel. God Bless the Jewish People. God Bless Jerusalem. God Bless Israel Beiteinu. God Bless Avigdor Lieberman. May God Bless those that Bless Israel and may God Curse those who Curse Israel.

More than that - he is willing to say what most of the politicians / people in Israel feel - but don't say it out loud. Yes, nobody wants freeloaders / hostile / non-loyal population in it's midst. And yes, settling the land is the right thing to do.

The Left hates him because he actually cares about Israeli Jews and has real ideas for our future, not empty populist slogans..

That all of Rafiah should be in either Gaza, or Egypt, but not both ... seems reasonable.

and embark on discussions that are motivated by self and national interest. It is too much to ask that Israel be some sort of experiment in social justice. Does China worry about others when it comes to Tibet. the ancient lands of Israel are in fact the true borders. why should Israel fight for decades and only come out with its life, no one but a Jew would thin this is sane.

the Gazans have already taken over land between Rafah and El-Arish, and use it for terror. What did you expect Gazans to do with land given to them....turn it into a productive State and become peaceful??

in your dreams ;)

Excellent talkback! You write well..may you always be well and be blessed Alexander!

The one who laughs last laughs best. ;)

And he should be (the next PM): he has staunch love fir Jews, wants the best for Israel and is fair towards the Arabs. He's a great choice to break the status quo and formulate new ideas. Indeed, Egypt should STILL provide a gift of land inthe Sinai to the Gazans, as a sign of generosity and partnership in peace. It's not like the Sinai is used at all...it's a large empty space.

Jones was the Bush Admin ambassador. He's gone now. He made an assessment is all. A curious idea on getting Egypt to reduce its size to accommodate Israeli interests. I wonder what incentives Lieberman intended Israel to offer Egypt to give up part of its territory. As the past week has shown, Egypt is a little touchy about people being shot and bombed by Israelis inside Egypt; an indication that Egypt thinks it too deserves territorial integrity.

and claim shows Lieberman wanted to "expel" Israeli Arabs when it clearly shows nothing of the sort.

How would the jewish people react if ,lets say England ,was to say to all the jewish people who live there,"ok. time to go, pack your bags and go and live in Israel",you would all be throwing your arms up in the air ,and yelling" they want to expulse the jews" etc etc and that i am sure most arab-israel live the same way, never knowing what will happen.

Most are people that came from Sudan and other Arab countries. In fact, most hamas people are from Sudan and other African states. Free food and other benefits brought them. There were a few beduins but some (with high school education) left for US and other countries about 30-40 years ago. People will do a lot for free food and kalashnicov.

I am an American raised on progressive left ideology. Yet, I cannot abide by these concepts when it comes to Israel's survival. Lieberman makes a lot of sense to me. If I was an Israeli, I would strongly consider urging him to become the next Prime Minister.

to annex Yudah-Shomron, to recognize Gaza as a free state, to give to all Arabs and descendants who wasn't in Israel before 1948 the Jordanian citizenship, the other ones get the israeli citizenship, to rent the most jordanian/arab populated cities to Jordan and have a agreement with Jordan's king about their management (electricity/sewage/water etc.). Historically, Gaza is Palestine, the land of the Phlashtim.

And the one that cries last cries best. I hope it won't be us. We have alienated Iran, Turkey and now Egypt...

He is the only senior mamber of government who at least has some creative and good ideas. I totally support this suggestion. I would add would be a good idea if the land proposed would be west of the Nile.

Elsie 14: England already once expelled all its Jewish subjects, so that wouldn't be so shocking, and that's why we have Israel, in case they decide to do it again.

@20, Yes, you are right Simon, they did ,in 1290 and up to 1614, no jews were allow in England, but i am refering to this day and age, it is beyond me to even think of expelling jewish people from England,and the same goes for the arab-Israeli who live here,I don't ,you don't ,have this right. but, we never learn from history, do we??

when Egypt give land to Palestine at night Israel occupies it in the morning

There is no way you could have "alienated" Israel's mortal enemies more, because they have always been devoted to the Jewish State destruction. Either Islam will be eliminated by the Western (Judeo-Christian) Civilization, or the other way around. There is nothing "in between", we must not fool ourselves.

If it becomes a law, I do not believe muslims in Israel would have any problem signing a "Loyalty Oath". Liberman get briefed by Shabak and knows that Israeli-Arabs are loyal to the state. The real threat within comes from the extreem right who frequently clach with the IDF.

it looks like Gaza will just become part of Egypt...as it was in the past.

Many countries are demanding Israel give up parts of their land, ethnically cleanse their citizens, and just hand over land to another party, including their most holiest sites. The difference is these countries want Israel to give up populated areas, from the limited sliver Israel already has, versus the small part of highly-unpopulated Sinai to relieve Gaza over-population as proposed by Lieberman. Infact, if Egypt provided a portion of unused land, not one Egyptian would have to be re-located.

They seem to be a major threat to me, especially because they aid Israel's enemies (sometimes resulting in the death of Israeli Arabs by terrorists) and actively work for the destruction of the State of Israel. The far-right does nothing like that.

It was pretty easy then. Since Gaza isn't occupied by any definition of that word, your claim is erroneous. What you may find by the morning after you give land to Gaza is another 1mm "Palestinians" inside Gaza.

right it was pretty easy and it will pretty easy too in the beginning because Egyptian army not in sini due to camp David 1979, but we will take it back afternoon like kippour day 1973 but this time without stop till Jerusalem that's make it crazy idea "Since Gaza isn't occupied by any definition of that word " Gaza under siege by your army not allowing even the humanitarian aids to be delivered