FM: If PA wants war – they'll get war

Avigdor Lieberman warns that any future rocket fire from Gaza will mandate 'full invasion of Strip'

Yuval Karni |Published: 12.11.12 , 21:59

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented Tuesday on the Palestinian threat to seek ICC action over Israel's plans to build 3,000 new housing units in the West Bank, saying that Israel "Has to be clear: If the Palestinians want peace – they'll get peace. If they want war – they'll get war."

Speaking at a Hanukkah event held by Yisrael Beiteinu in Tel Aviv, Lieberman also stated that any future rocket fire from the Strip would mandate not just an IDF incursion of the enclave, but a full-blown invasion.

"Any rocket attack mandates a wide-scale ground invasion of Gaza… Such an operation shouldn’t be restricted by any means, it should see (the IDF) take full control of Gaza. We have no other choice – the world needs to know that."

He further blasted the Left, and especially Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich, Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-On and Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni for siding with the Palestinian Authority.

"I'm bothered by the fact that some Israeli politicians keep saying that 'Abu Mazen is a peace partner.' They repeat that like parakeets.

"I listened hard and I tried to hear Gal-On, Yachimovich and Livni denounce the attacks against Israel, but all I heard were attacks on Israel," Lieberman said.

Lieberman further said that only the joint Likud-Beiteinu ticket can lead Israel: "Can Galon handle security problems? Can those two blabbermouths, Yachimovich and Herzog, deal with the threats Israel faces? Maybe Livni and Mitzna? We've already seen what they can do.

"Only Netanyahu and Lieberman can handle the problems Israel face," he declared.

The foreign minister also leveled criticism at the IDF soldiers who fled a stone-throwing mob in the West Bank last week, saying that "Soldiers choose to flee instead of shooting because they fear being investigated by the Military Police."