Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Photo: Eli Mandelbaum
Lieberman employs new strategy to tackle EU
Foreign minister instructs Israeli ambassador to EU to tell Europeans they will only be permitted to examine Palestinian prisoners' conditions after an Israeli delegation will visit European prisons.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has taken on a new approach to European attempts to interfere with events in Israel and the regional conflict by using the exact same tactics.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Elmar Brok turned to Israeli Ambassador to the European Union David Walzer last week, and asked for a special European Parliament delegation to examine the prison conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Lieberman instructed the ambassador to respond to the request by saying that only if an Israeli delegation will be allowed to visit their prisoners, then the Europeans would be permitted to visit Israeli ones.
A source within the foreign minister's office said the request is a scheme that was pre-coordinated with Palestinian sources, who seek to lead an anti-Israel campaign on the matter of Palestinian prisoners.
"It was clear that this is a desire to accuse Israel and publish conclusions that were prepared for a foretold condemnation," said the foreign ministry source.
A response has yet to be received to the Israeli offer to conduct a parallel visit to Europe to examine prisoners' conditions.
