Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Israeli foreign minister defends peace-maker Kerry
Israel's right-wing foreign minister on Friday defended U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry whose Middle East peace drive has seen mounting criticism from within the Israeli government.
The conciliatory remarks by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has previously been a vocal critic of international efforts to set up a Palestinian state on Israeli-occupied territory, could help Kerry cobble together consensus for pursuing the peace negotiations.
"I want to make clear - Kerry is a true friend of Israel," Lieberman told business leaders in Tel Aviv. "What is the point of turning friend into foe?"
Lieberman has taken a more circumspect tack since resuming the role of foreign minister after he was cleared of graft charges last year.
The conciliatory remarks by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has previously been a vocal critic of international efforts to set up a Palestinian state on Israeli-occupied territory, could help Kerry cobble together consensus for pursuing the peace negotiations.
"I want to make clear - Kerry is a true friend of Israel," Lieberman told business leaders in Tel Aviv. "What is the point of turning friend into foe?"
Lieberman has taken a more circumspect tack since resuming the role of foreign minister after he was cleared of graft charges last year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-palestinians-israel-usa-idUSBREA1518N20140207
Lieberman said fellow rightists were "competing to show off rhetorical ability - who can be more crass, more vociferous" against Kerry, adding: "This fulmination does not help. We should relax a little."
Hearing FM Lieberman trying to calm the situation and being conciliatory is encouraging.
AIPACS loss in the senate, really woke them up.