Israeli foreign minister unrepentant over "uncoordinated" UN speech

Sep 29, 2010, 11:59 GMT

Jerusalem - Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was unrepentant Wednesday over a speech he gave at the United Nations, which drew a speedy rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since it it had not been coordinated with his office.

Lieberman on Tuesday told the UN General Assembly it could take a 'few decades' to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Speaking on Israel Radio Wednesday, Lieberman insisted that his comments represented a clear and consistent view he has uttered before, and one that is supported by a majority of Israelis.

Although Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from his foreign minister's remarks, Lieberman denied he had caused the premier any embarrassment.

Shortly after Lieberman's speech, Netanyahu's office issued a statement saying the premier 'believes wholeheartedly that we will be able to reach a framework agreement within one year and change history in the Middle East.'

Lieberman's comments at the UN also drew sharp criticism from other coalition members, with Defence Minister Ehud Barak, of the centre-left Labour Party, accusing the ultra-nationalist minister of 'playing into the enemies' hands.'

Minister of Minorities Avishai Braverman, also a Labour Party member, called Lieberman 'subversive' and demanded he be fired immediately.

Lieberman responded to the criticism by saying the Labour Party should be replaced in the coalition by the centrist Kadima party, which currently heads the opposition.

He also noted that Braverman needed to pray for the foreign minister's continued health, 'because if he doesn't attack me, no one will know he even exists or is a minister.'

Leaders of Kadima, although their party has been touted as a possible replacement for Lieberman's Yisrael Be'Teinu faction, were also quick to attack the foreign minister and the premier.

'The Netanyahu government speaks with a number of voices and it seems as though Prime Minister Netanyahu represents only his own perspective. This shows Netanyahu's weakness, as he is unable to advance his stance among his ministers and his coalition partners,' said front-bench Kadima legislator Yoel Hasson.

'This is a government without a head, without a leader and without a direction,' he added.

Wednesday was not the first time Netanyahu has heard calls to fire Lieberman, whose blunt, outspoken style of diplomacy has won Israel few friends abroad, even if it does play well with certain sections of the Israeli electorate.

However, simple political arithmetic makes it difficult for the premier to take such a step.

Should Lieberman be fired, he could take his 15-seat party out of the coalition, leaving Netanyahu heading a minority government commanding the support - not always automatic - of 59 of the 120 legislators in the Knesset.

One alternative would be to invite Kadima to join the government. But the centrist party, which actually won one more seat than Netanyahu's Likud in the last elections - 28 to 27 - is likely to demand a high price, given that Netanyahu would be perceived as politically desperate.

Negotiations between the two factions, after Netanyahu was chosen to set up a government, floundered over Kadima leader Tzipi Livni's insistence that she and Netanyahu take turns being premier.

Should this demand be raised again, and should Netanyahu agree, he would be heading for trouble with other right-wing and nationalist parties, who have little ideological common ground with Kadima.

And bringing in a smaller faction in place of Kadima would leave the premier at the helm of a government with such a small majority that he could be held hostage by any coalition-party political whim.

One alternative is new elections, but there is no guarantee that Netanyahu would emerge from this as the prime minister designate, or that Lieberman's party would not be strengthened.

Another course would be for the premier to wait and see if the attorney general will indict Lieberman - as police have recommended - on several allegations, including breech of trust, bribery, money laundering, accepting bribes and obstruction of justice.

Lieberman, who maintains his innocence, has said he will quit his post if the attorney general accepts the police recommendation, although his party would remain in the coalition.