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Special Report
Avigdor Lieberman’s Dose of Truth
In the wake of Obama’s appearance, the Israeli foreign minister’s speech to the UN this week drew condemnations.
Not surprisingly, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman’s speech to the UN General Assembly this week drew condemnations, with Palestinian delegates walking out on the speech.
Israel’s left-wing daily Haaretz ran an article claiming U.S. Jews were “outraged.” It quotes extreme-dovish activist Seymour Reich as saying, “If Lieberman can’t keep his personal opinions to himself, he ought to resign from the cabinet,” and an unnamed “leader” as saying, “Every time…Lieberman voices his skepticism about achieving peace, he undermines Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s credibility.”
In Israel, among prominent commentators denouncing the speech was Ron Ben-Yishai in Yediot Aharonot, the country’s largest daily. In a piece called “Time to Fire Lieberman,” Ben-Yishai, who usually writes on military affairs and is often quite reality-cognizant, bitterly accused Lieberman of showing “chutzpah and contempt” toward Netanyahu, “undermin[ing] Israel’s image as a democratic, enlightened state,” and “grant[ing] a diplomatic victory” to Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.
Ministers from the left-of-center Labor Party — part of Netanyahu’s coalition — also skewered the speech.
Now, what did Lieberman actually say? A perusal of the short address reveals nothing morally or intellectually objectionable.
After the opening pleasantries, Lieberman asked: “why, during the seventeen years since we signed the Oslo Accords, have we not arrived at a comprehensive agreement signifying the end of the conflict [with the Palestinians]?”
He went on to contest “the prevalent view that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the heart of the instability in the Middle East,” noting that:
More than ninety percent of the wars and war victims of the [region] since the Second World War did not result from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and are in no way connected to Israel, stemming rather, from conflicts involving Muslims or conflicts between Arab states. The Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf war, the wars between North and South Yemen, the Hamma atrocities in Syria, and the wars in Algeria and Lebanon, are just a few examples of a list that goes on and on.
Anything wrong there? Nope; I could have said it myself.
Lieberman then turned to the “second flawed explanation” for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, namely, “the so-called ‘occupation,’ the settlements in Judea and Samaria and the settlers themselves.” He pointed out:
Firstly, all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza were under Arab control for 19 years, between 1948 and 1967. During these 19 years, no one tried to create a Palestinian state.
Peace agreements were achieved with Egypt and Jordan despite the presence of settlements. And the opposite is also true: we evacuated twenty-one flourishing settlements in Gush Katif [in Gaza], and we transferred more than 10,000 Jews and in return, we have Hamas in power and thousands of missiles on Sderot and southern Israel.
Again, all quite accurate.
Lieberman went on:
The other misguided argument is the claim that the Palestinian issue prevents a determined international front against Iran…. In truth, the connection between Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is precisely reversed. Iran can exist without Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, but the terrorist organizations cannot exist without Iran…. [I]n searching for a durable agreement with the Palestinians…one must understand that first, the Iranian issue must be resolved….
About the Author
P. David Hornik is a writer and translator in Beersheva, Israel, blogging at PDavidHornik.typepad.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (15) | Leave a comment
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Ret. Marine| 9.30.10 @ 7:21AM
This conflict will never be resolved because of not one issue in this regard, it is not about land for peace, it is not about a palestinian state, it is not even about anyone's right to return, to what. It is all about the fact that the arabs and their own religion of pieces, known to all as islam, will never rest, give in to appeasers, brute power or the truth. They are in this struggle for the very reason islam is in a struggle for the hearts and minds of their own evilness, they know of no other way. Period. " whoa unto those who think evil good and good evil".
KyMouse| 9.30.10 @ 9:47AM
Well said, Mr. Hornik and Ret. Marine (thank you for your service). This conflict is not over details, such as where construction should or should not take place. Even if the so-called "settlement" question were to be settled, right behind it would come the "right of return." Arabs/Muslims all over the region, and perhaps all over the world, would start demanding parcels of Israeli land, claiming that it used to belong to their families. And what if no records exist to back up their claims? The world will say, let them have the land.
None of this is about details or individual issues. The root of the problem is the Arab/Muslim determination to wipe out the only Jewish nation, and perhaps the Jewish people themselves. If you doubt that such hatred exists, spend some time in the MEMRI web site, reading mosque sermons and looking at political cartoons in the Muslim press.
RAMIII| 9.30.10 @ 10:38AM
2 names:
Ishmael and Isaac.
Joe Hamilton| 9.30.10 @ 11:26AM
I agree with the author and ret Marine. This is not about real estate. This is about a religion that considers anyone not a member to be subhuman. A religion that encourages violence and deceit against infidels. The imbecile in the WH is clearly very anti-Jewish and pro-Islamic . He is also by far, the worst president in US history. Every day this total fool sits in the WH , is one more nail in the coffin of the US. The only positive that has come from this totally incompetent, empty suit , teleprompter reader is he has resurrected and strengthened the Republican party beyond anything that could be imagined 2 years ago.
Texas Mom2010| 9.30.10 @ 1:33PM
This whole issue infuriates me. I do not believe Israel should have to give another concession, period. What have the Arabs brought to the table besides more demands? How about drawing a line in the sand? For every missile attack settle more land and fire ten times the attack at your enemy. Israelis are the victims here and should not allow the attackers who do not build but seek to destroy society to frame the debate. It is insane to let our President to frame the debate to favor muslim extremists. There should be major concessions from the 'palestinians' FIRST. Israel has shown it is willing to live in peace but it is not willing 'to go quietly into the night' nor should it. The burden should be on the Palestinians to first show some desire for a separate peace from there side before Israel has to respond in any way.
jawin| 9.30.10 @ 3:23PM
All good comments ahead of mine. I find it remarkable that as liberal a nation as Israel actually is, our own American liberals are still more so. It seems to me that those who insist Israel concede even more without even some prolonged demonstration of peaceful intent on the part of Palestinians (and their benefactors) have a serious disconnect with reality and perhaps even sanity.
Thom| 9.30.10 @ 5:29PM
As long as the Peace at any cost crowd disregards the geographic reality nothing of substance will ever come out of these so called “peace talks”. Israel and Egypt were able to come to an agreement based on “land for peace” solely because Israel could afford to give back the land it secured in the 1967 war from Egypt. The Sinai is both vast and uninhabitable and that plus the Suez Canal form a natural barrier between Egypt and Israel that provides what is even today an internationally observed DMZ between the two. No such barrier can exist between Israel and the so called Palestinians as a separate Nation State with all the rights that go with that including self defense. Given the history of the so called Palestinians going back to the first day after the 1948 UN vote, their participation in 1948 war, the 1956 conflict with Jordan, the 1967 pre-emptive strike against overwhelming forces massed on Israel’s borders, the 1973 war and all the terrorist activities and up risings from 1973 to present the objective of the so called Palestinian people isn’t in doubt by anyone that has the slightest understanding of the trouble these people have been not just to the Israelis but other Arab Nations in the region. Their attempts to overthrown the King of Jordan and the grief they give the Egyptians just adds to what none of the Peace at any cost crowd want to grasp or accept about the culture and motives of these people.
I find it more than hypocrisy that the same people who stand up and shout at the top of their lungs that the Israelis are somehow racists in their treatment of what is a two legged culture of vermin then turn around and endorse the physical separations of both the “Jews” and “Palestinians” via a “two state” solution are in effect preaching “apartheid” as a solution. Only insane people think you can allow the so called “Palestinians” to acquire Nation status and there not end up being a blood bath shortly after acquiring of heavy weapons similar to that found all over the region.
A thirty second look at a detailed map of the region will show you that a “Palestinian” state will restore Israel to its pre 1967 geographic size and all the problems that bring and is indefensible against millions of hatful people armed with heavy weapons five minutes away. The Peace at any cost crowd which includes many Israelis, are just begging for a mass suicide pact if you keep ignoring the geographic reality that exists.
Natan| 10.1.10 @ 1:12PM
Insanity seems the only logical diagnostic conclusion of this "peace now" hysteria. What a terrible legacy our generation is bequeathing to the next one by empowering the mobs and thugs.
Ralph Novy| 10.2.10 @ 12:37AM
"Peace now hysteria"?
Never in my life seen it.
War hysteria...plenty.
What friggin' planet are you from that you suggest there's EVER been "peace hysteria" here?
And.........MOREOVER.......what the hell would be wrong with that?
Grow a pair.
Ralph Novy| 10.2.10 @ 12:34AM
Thom:
"...Israelis are somehow racists in their treatment of what is a two legged culture of vermin...."
Yeah, I guess it must be a real brain-teaser for you to figure THAT out, eh?
Imbecile.
Yea
Yosemeti Sam| 10.1.10 @ 3:14AM
Yak, yak, yak.
Bibi is patiently waiting for 11-02-10.
All other considerations are secondary.
Following that monumental event where Bozo is dressed down by the American electorate - Bibi will remedy the Iran nuke ambitions post haste.
Ralph Novy| 10.2.10 @ 12:31AM
Mr. Hornik:
You need to recheck the definition of "truth."
It is NOT a synonym for "filthy lie."
You're not fooling anyone with the facility to fact-check.
Truthcop| 10.2.10 @ 1:25AM
There will be no peace between Israel and the "Palestinians" for generations.
Until Iran stops backing Hamas et al, until they all acknowledge Israels right to exist...there will be no peace.
Jews are all for peace, but you cannot make peace with those that have not only sworn to their G-d to destroy you, but also teach their children hate.
Bottom line, no peace - all this talk is just that for Obama to have something to talk about for election time.
He is no friend of Israel!
Mark James| 10.2.10 @ 3:00PM
There will be no peace between Israel and the "Palestinians" for generations, Until Iran stops backing Hamas et al,"
And that brings us to a most difficult but undeniable choice. Iran must cease to exist in it's present form.
Dr. Ron Polland | 10.2.10 @ 11:30PM
Avigdor, you are the mensch! As soon as I read that the UN got their knickers in an uproar, and the Pallys fled the building like rats of a ship, I knew it had to be swag.
Finally, someone has the stones to tell it like it is and tell all those self-loathing, muzzy loving liberal Leftist Pseudo Jews and their "partners for peace" that they either like it or spike it.
This insanity can only be stopped after spending several decades of deprogramming to extricate hate that has been force-fed to them as children and young adults .