Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Photo: Reuters
Lieberman: What have Arabs done for Palestinians?
At end of meeting with Danish counterpart, foreign minister attacks Arab states for 'contributing less than rest of world to improving lives of Palestinians and normalized relations with Israel'
The foreign minister took a jab at Israel's neighbors from far-away Denmark. After warning Europe against radical Islam on Monday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman came out against the Arab states, who, according to him, "contribute less than the rest of the world to improving the lives of Palestinians on the ground and the normalization of relations between the Palestinians and Israel."
Lieberman made these statements following his meeting with his Danish counterpart, Per Stieg Moeller.
The two foreign ministers spoke about the need to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Lieberman said that Israel is prepared to open directs talks with the Palestinians immediately, "but, in light of their current position, only the US can bring them to the negotiation table."
Lieberman met Tuesday with Danish Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen. The two discussed the issue of the war against global terror. Minister Lieberman noted international cooperation on the issue and said that Israel would gladly continue to share its lessons learned with the Danish authorities.
On the backdrop of the Goldstone Report, Lieberman suggested "reexamining the rules of international law that still refer to the era of wars between countries and regular armies. We must see how international law can be brought up-to-date with the current situation in which democratic countries are forced to contend with terrorist organizations that use women and children as human shields, hospitals and schools as hideouts, just as Hamas did in Gaza and other terrorist organizations are doing in other places in the world."
On Tuesday, Lieberman left Copenhagen for the Hague, where he will continue his European tour. He will return to Israel on Thursday.
