Lieberman: Haniyeh will join 'martyrs' if Shalit harmed
Lieberman at Sunday cabinet meetings: 'It should be made clear that if anything happens to Gilad Shalit, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Interior Minister Sayid Siam will join the martyr's list'
Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman said during Sunday's cabinet meeting that he is concerned over Palestinian statements regarding kidnapped soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit.
"There should be a price tag on everything," he said, "it should be made clear that if anything happens (to Shalit), Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Interior Minister Sayid Siam will join the 'martyr's list'," said Lieberman.
Lieberman refused to comment on the statements attributed to him as cabinet meetings are held behind closed doors and he does not see it fit to comment on classified matters.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed the proposal put forth by Interior Security Minister Avi Dicter to expand the operation in Gaza: "You generals always make suggestions after you retire from your posts, why don't you make the suggestions while you’re still in your positions?"
Minister of Internal Affairs Ronnie Bar-On agreed with Olmert, telling Dicter "You've been talking about going into Beit Hanoun for months and now that we have you suggest expanding it?"
Peretz slams general
Defense Minister Amir Peretz expressed his regret over statements made by Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern who heads the army's human resources directorate. Stern commented that over-sensitivity to the loss of soldiers' lives impaired Israel's abilities during the war.
Stern said that the chief of staff received an update of every individual fatality and that battles were directed based on the wounding of a single soldier, he said that with every due respect this is not a way to fight a war.
Peretz said that he will demand a clarification from Maj. Gen. Stern regarding his statements and said that "human life was and remains the chief value of the IDF."
Israel Our Home chairman and newly minted Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman caused a stir Sunday when his first interview to the foreign press since his appointment was publishes. Speaking with the British 'Sunday Telegraph' Lieberman called for Israel to copy the Cyprus model of separating populations and divide the country's Jewish population from the Arab one.
Lieberman said that Israel's Arab minority is a "problem" and that the two nationalities should be separated. "We established Israel as a Jewish country," Lieberman said, "I want to provide an Israel that is a Jewish, Zionist country."
