Olmert slams Lieberman
Photo: Asaf Lev
Olmert: Europe is not our enemy
Ex-PM slams Lieberman's assault on Europe; 'Are we declaring war on the world?' Olmert wonders
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
slammed Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Thursday over the FM's recent criticism of leading European states, wondering whether Israel
has decided to "declare war on the world."
"Is (German Chancellor) Merkel our enemy? Has the State of Israel decided to declare war on the entire world?" the former PM said. "Who are our rivals – England, France, Germany? And why, because some countries don't accept what we do in the territories?"
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"We are talking about states that are our prime target for business and commerce, so what exactly is our interest in declaring war on the civilized Western world we wish to join,?" the former PM said. "Where is the prime minister?"
Speaking at the annual convention of Israel's farmers' association, Olmert also slammed the atmosphere under current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"An unpleasant spirit is sweeping the country and prompting many people to feel a sense of discomfort and distress. It's spirit of uncertainty, of not knowing where we are headed and what the State of Israel's true priorities are," he said.
"In a country where citizens can assault IDF soldiers and continue to walk free, this is a threat on democracy," Olmert said, referring to recent attacks by radical rightists on troops. "The time has come to put an end to what we've seen in the past two weeks."
