Sunday, April 05, 2009

Lieberman's outburst

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman wasted no time in opening his mouth and putting his foot in it. At his first introductory meeting with the staff at the Foreign Ministry, he stated that the Annapolis agreement was never ratified by the Israeli Government (meaning the former Kadima Government of PM Olmert). Since Lieberman was a Minister in that Government for a time, and resigned over their acceptance of the Annapolis agreement, he should know. But, others dispute his interpretation, saying that the Government did indeed sign the agreement, and this therefore commits future Governments, including this Netanyahu Govermnment to honor this agreement.
Whatever the actual facts of the case, Liebermann, by stating this publicly, has upset the apple cart. Also, because PM Netanyahu has avoided stating that Israel accepts the "two state solution," FM Liberman's rejection of e Annpolis agreement has further confused an already complex situation. Actually, Netanyahu, has not explicitly rejected a "two state solution" and many of his policies in the past have supported that direction, and FM Lieberman, in the same speech, endorsed the Road Map Plan of Pres. Bush, that the Annapolis meeting, that was actually almost totally a photo opportunity with no substance, was based on. So things are not as bleak or confused as they might appear.
Netanyahu is on record as wanting to see economic, educational and infrastructure improvements in the PA before it could become a true partner for Israel in a "two state solution." And Lieberman is reflecting the current major opinion in Israel that we don't want our policies to be determined by any foreign governments, even allies, and that we want to have freedom to decide our own policies within certain limits (determiend by past signed agreements). In other words, what does having sovereignty mean if our policies are determined by the EU and the US, who tell us - you must have this policy - or what? Incidentally, tell me, have the PA or the Arab League actually officially endorsed a "two state solution" with Israel the Jewish State being one of them? No, I thought not!

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