Lieberman accuses Left of Israel's problems

Minister for strategic affairs says Israeli Left behind 'all the hardship that has befallen the country'; Beilin: Lieberman has a twisted mind

Ynet |Published: 10.02.07 , 10:54

Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman slammed the Israeli Left Tuesday for all the hardship that has befallen the country. "I have no grievance with the Arabs or the world, I accuse the Left. All our suffering, our problems and our victims were brought about by these people," Lieberman said in an interview on IDF Radio.

"The troubles are because of those Hellenists who are trying to break us from within at all cost, to break the consensus," he added.

"In general, the source of all our problems is not the international community – it's because of those people. As I've always said, we had the Maccabim and the Hellenists and Brit Shalom. Today we have those who rat on IDF soldiers… there are those Israelis who lead the academic boycott in Britain. They are, first and foremost, our problem."

Lieberman slammed a recent left-wing campaign that called on artists not to participate in an event marking 40 years since the establishment of Gush Etzion in the West Bank. "When I hear a number of prominent figures in the Left calling to boycott the artists who attend this event… I think I'm being subtle when I refer to them as Hellenists."

According to the minister, it was a leftist government that was behind the reestablishment of Gush Etzion east of the Green Line. "Gush Etzion is the widest Zionist consensus. The Mapai and Mapam government built it. Therefore, speaking of Gush Etzion as if it were an illegal outpost seems to stem from blind hatred," he said.

'Twisted mind'

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin said that "as long as people Like Minister Lieberman and his friends serve in the government, there is no chance Israel can become a normal state living in peace with its neighbors.

"Only a twisted mind can attribute the blood spilt to peace agreements that have been signed, instead of looking at the number of people killed before and after 1967 and realize the terrible price we paid for our insistence to hold on to the occupied territories."

MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) stated that "Lieberman's words put him in one line with a series of warmongers who are trying to de-legitimize those who seek peace and reconciliation. His statement testifes only to the frustration of Lieberman and his friends from the fact that Left's path is the beacon that has been guiding Israeli public opinion for decades."