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Photo: AP
Lieberman. Threatening?
Photo: AP

Lieberman: Don't be afraid of me

Future deputy prime minister believes he can contribute to war against Iranian nuclear program. 'I am going to collect all the information on the issue,' he tells Ynet, adding that he will work to expand coordination with Egypt and Jordan. Turning to public and Peretz, he says, 'I am coming to work, not to threaten anyone'

Israel Our Home Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, the future deputy prime minister and strategic threats minister, told Ynet on Tuesday, "There is no reason to be afraid of me. I am coming to work, not to threaten anyone."

 

One day before he is expected to be sworn in, Lieberman started his day in a tennis match. Due to the great media attention he has received in recent days, he tries to maintain moments of sanity and activities not related to politics.

 

In the afternoon he continued to shake hands with Knesset members and Knesset visitors, who offered their greetings for the coalition agreement signed by the Israel Our Home faction.

 

Lieberman remained calm, but the smile could not be wiped off his face.

 

"There is no doubt that the major issue we are facing is the Iranian issue," he said after signing the coalition deal on Monday evening. "I am not bringing a lot of knowledge with me. I am bringing three things to this position: Organization skills, management skills and an ability to learn."

 

"I am coming to learn what can be done and to do. Enough talking, we must put a stop to different elements with different opinions, each pulling toward their own direction," he told Ynet.

 

“Like in a firing range, the more shots fired at one point, the better. That is how you get the best result. I’m going to focus all the information from all of the forces involved in the issue and direct them all to the same target, and that target is to work against the Iranian nuclear process,” he said.

 

“The first thing I’m going to do in my new position is to consolidate a decision making procedure regarding strategic issues like Iran,” he added. He went on to explain that although Israel had great tools in times of war such as the Mossad, IDF Intelligence, and the National Security council, the political echelon neglected to use the tools correctly.

 

The soon to be deputy prime minister also said he would deal not only with the Iranian threat, but with threats that accompany it. “In light of what is happening now in the North, against Hizbullah, and in the South, against Hamas, I will want to join together all the related forces in order to deal with those threats,” he said.

 

“I think we need to work a lot more coordinately with Egypt and Jordan. They have a lot of influence on what is going on there, and one of the first things I will do is to expand coordination with them,” Lieberman assured.

 

When asked about claims that he was a threatening man, Lieberman said, “No one has any reason to be afraid. I’m here to roll up my sleeves. First I will learn, and then I will work in cooperation with everyone. That is the essence of my position.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.24.06, 16:53
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