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[I]Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, left, talks as his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov looks on at a press conference following their meeting in Jerusalem, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Lavrov is on an official visit to the region[/I]
[quote=Associated Press]
JERUSALEM – Israel's hard-line foreign minister said Tuesday that there was "no chance" a Palestinian state would be established by 2012 — a message that threatened to cloud the latest visit by President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy.
The comments by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman drew swift Palestinian condemnations and could put Israel at odds with the international community, which has set a 2012 target for brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
"As an optimist, I see no chance that a Palestinian state will be established by 2012," Lieberman said at a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "We can express interest, we can dream, but in reality, we are still far from reaching understandings and agreements on establishing an independent state by 2012."
Russia, along with the U.S., European Union and United Nations, make up the "Quartet" of Mideast negotiators — an international group that has spent nearly a decade trying to forge a peace agreement.
White House envoy George Mitchell was set to arrive in Israel later Tuesday to mediate a fifth round of indirect talks between the sides. Mitchell is trying to prod Israel and the Palestinians into direct negotiations.
It wasn't clear whether Lieberman was expressing his own opinion or government policy. A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to comment.
Lieberman is a contentious figure because of his support for redrawing Israel's borders to push areas with heavy concentrations of Arabs out of Israel and into Palestinian jurisdiction. He also launched a failed effort in parliament to force Israeli Arabs to take a loyalty oath or lose their citizenship.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' West Bank government accused Lieberman of defying international efforts to wrap up a deal.
"Lieberman is issuing a challenge to the international community, which is in agreement on the two-year ceiling," Ghassan Khatib said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called Lieberman's comments "a severe slap to the Palestinians and the Arabs who believe in the mirage of a peace agreement."
He said Hamas calls on Abbas to stop pursuing peace with Israel.
Talks between Palestinians and Israelis resumed in May after a 17-month breakdown. The Palestinians have insisted on U.S. mediation, saying they are frustrated by Israel's refusal to declare a halt to all construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, lands they claim for a future state along with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
The aim is to shift gears to direct talks in late September. But much will depend on whether Israel agrees to extend a construction slowdown it has declared in the West Bank and a de facto moratorium in effect in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want for a future capital.
Abbas said Monday that Israel has not offered enough to make it worthwhile to move to direct talks.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said in response that direct talks are the only way to solve the conflict.
At their news conference, Lieberman and Lavrov expressed very different positions on Hamas, the militant group that rules the Gaza Strip. Israel and many Western countries boycott Hamas as a terror organization, while Russia has contacts with the group.[/quote]
[quote]"As an optimist, I see no chance that a Palestinian state will be established by 2012," Lieberman said at a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "We can express interest, we can dream, but in reality.."[/quote][URL="http://www.haaretz.com/news/lieberman-s-party-proposes-ban-on-arab-nakba-1.276035"]Ahaha what a joke. This is the same Lieberman who proposed to ban the anniversary of "Nakba"[/URL] (When Israeli/Jewish forces expelled the Palestinians from their homes in 1948, which then lead to the creation of Israel). Where someone caught practicing would receive a jail term of 3 years.
Relevant Thread:[URL="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=920347"] Israeli Foreign Minister warns Palestinians not to declare state [/URL](If Palestine declares independence from Israel's oppression, annexations and [B]termination[/B] of peace treaties will be carried out by Israel.)
All right, the Israeli government has broken the fabric of reality by being even more retarded.
[QUOTE=rob54362;22978854]All right, the Israeli government has broken the fabric of reality by being even more retarded.[/QUOTE]
You probably didn't even read the article. It's not as if this is unexpected or anything.
[QUOTE=rob54362;22978854]All right, the Israeli government has broken the fabric of reality by being even more retarded.[/QUOTE]
I thought they showed the reality of the situation.
I'm not surprised, Israel has been fucking up since the flotilla incident.
A solid Palestinian state in under two years? It would be pretty tough to pull off even if the Israelis wanted it, and it's clear they don't.
So why are they telling palestine not to declare themselves a state?
[QUOTE=DogGunn;22978863]You probably didn't even read the article. It's not as if this is unexpected or anything.[/QUOTE]
so the oppression of over a million people is ok because it's "expected" ?
[QUOTE=JerryK;22979430]so the oppression of over a million people is ok because it's "expected" ?[/QUOTE]
I don't see how you got that from what he said.
:bravo: Israel.
...why did they have a picture of the Russian FM for the article instead of the Israeli one?
[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;22980126]...why did they have a picture of the Russian FM for the article instead of the Israeli one?[/QUOTE]
[quote=OP]
[I]Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, left, [U]talks as his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov[/U] looks on at a press conference following their meeting in Jerusalem, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Lavrov is on an official visit to the region[/I]
[/quote]
I read what it said, it still doesn't make sense. Yea he's on a trip there and all, but the article is about the Israeli FM.
[QUOTE=bravehat;22979195]So why are they telling palestine not to declare themselves a state?[/QUOTE]
A palestinian state could become a threat if it unifies the palestinians and becomes less reliant on israeli aid. The choices israel makes in this matter will determine its future
Of course there won't be a Palestinian state if Israel KEEPS GODDAMNED STEALING IT ALL AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE IT.
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