Lieberman: No stopwatches
Photo: Eli Mandelbaum
Lieberman: World listening to my ideas
Foreign minister says leftists in Israel are only ones opposed to his new opinions on government policy
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that the world accepts his ideas while Israeli leftists take issue with them needlessly.
He accused left-wing politicians of unnecessary objection to his opinions. "These people, instead of building Israel as an independent state, want to give up national interest and respect for concepts that are entirely foreign," he said.
Speaking at an Yisrael Beiteinu convention Lieberman said, "The only place I've heard cries of despair is here. During the many meetings I have held around the world with foreign ministers and state officials I have discovered much interest in the new ideas I am proposing."
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Lieberman explained his new foreign policy. "We weren't partners in Olmert's government, which ran to Abbas with far-reaching ideas, or in Sharon's disengagement government," he said.
"These governments brought about results that were the opposite of those desired. Terrorism was not lessened, Hamas took power, two Arab countries, Qatar and Mauritania, severed ties with us, and we've been at a dead end for 16 years. We must be prepared to listen to new ideas."
The foreign minister, currently under investigation for money laundering and fraud, said his new foreign policy would be ready in 1-2 months.
"We mean to act with determination in the political field and to assess the general situation in an up-to-date manner. This won't happen at this second and no one should stand here with a stopwatch. We will form the policy in accordance with our world view and the voters' wishes," he said.
Lieberman was evasive on the subject of the Annapolis Peace Summit, which he had condemned during his first speech.
"We resigned from Olmert's government because it was a return to a peace process with the Palestinians following the negotiations in Annapolis," he said.
Lieberman said that although he was unhappy with the Road Map and the concessions Israel would have to make, his party would "honor Israeli governments' prior commitments in order to maintain regime continuance".
Regarding the police investigation against him, the foreign minister said he had "enjoyed every moment with the guys in the interrogation department", and that he wished to dedicate all his spare time to questioning "to get the affair over with once and for all".
He said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would continue to reign in the government for the next four years. "Until the elections for the 19th Knesset, Yisrael Beiteinu will remain the significant part of the coalition," he said. "Those who have any illusions should get rid of them as soon as possible."
