Lieberman, a nonpleasing chancellor

[IndianaGreen]

I am being lazy tonight so instead of doing my own translation, I am using the babelfish translation of this interesting article in Madrid's daily El Pais. It is about our wonderful Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman. The babelfish translation is not easy flowing as one done by an skilled translator, but it does capture the main points. You can us the link to the original article in Spanish, go to babelfish, and get the entire thing translated for you.

Lieberman, a nonpleasing chancellor

The Israeli minister of Exteriors undergoes a chain of diplomatic rudeness

JUAN MIGUEL MUÑOZ - Jerusalem - 13/07/2009


The ambition of Benjamin Netanyahu to aupar itself to the position of prime minister of Israel demanded openwork concessions to a Pleiad of parties. Its main support could not be other that Yisrael Beiteinu, the group of the right-wing extremist Avigdor Lieberman, who with 15 deputies in the Kneset was essential to forge a Government who finishes turning 100 days of walking. The origin politician moldavo demanded the portfolio of Exteriors. Netanyahu acceded. And now as soon as it can have him. The head of the diplomacy - radical as few in their Arabic phobia are almost a infested one in Europe and the United States.

In his first visits to Europe, weeks back, Lieberman began to undergo a chain of rudeness. In Paris the habitual press conference with its homologous Bernard Kouchner was not celebrated. In Berlin, worse: the head of the German diplomacy, Frank-Walter Stenmeier, conversed with Lieberman in a restaurant. Also he traveled to Washington. And Barack Obama, that had received to Netanyahu, the minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, and to president Simón Reps eluded to meet with Lieberman. Even the French agent chief executive, Nicholas Sarkozy, recommended to Netanyahu to undo of his chancellor.

Are times of diplomacy desbocada in Near East. Obama has visited Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It has sent to emissaries to Syria and the return of a American ambassador to Damascus, after five years of absence, is imminent. French and British diplomats entrevistan themselves with leaders of Hezbolá in Lebanon. And while the special envoy of Obama, George Mitchell, is on the verge of landing in Tel Aviv, the sensation of isolation in the Israeli diplomacy spreads.

The political analysts assure that Netanyahu cannot call to the White House with the facility which their predecessors enjoyed George Bush. With Obama there is no syntony. And prime minister points his accusing finger: Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod, advisers of the American agent chief executive, are the people in charge of this lack of affection. It labels as self-hating jews - Jewish that is hated to same himself, it labels very in fashion for those Jews who criticize with bitterness the policies of the Israeli Executive.

Lieberman, un canciller no grato

El ministro israelí de Exteriores sufre una cadena de desplantes diplomáticos

JUAN MIGUEL MUÑOZ - Jerusalén - 13/07/2009

La ambición de Benjamín Netanyahu por auparse al cargo de primer ministro de Israel exigía concesiones de calado a una pléyade de partidos. Su principal soporte no podía ser otro que Yisrael Beiteinu, el grupo del ultraderechista Avigdor Lieberman, que con 15 diputados en la Kneset resultó imprescindible para forjar un Gobierno que acaba de cumplir 100 días de andadura. El político de origen moldavo exigió la cartera de Exteriores. Netanyahu accedió. Y ahora apenas puede contar con él. El jefe de la diplomacia -radical como pocos en su fobia antiárabe- es casi un apestado en Europa y en Estados Unidos.

En sus primeras visitas a Europa, semanas atrás, Lieberman comenzó a sufrir una cadena de desplantes. En París no se celebró la habitual conferencia de prensa con su homólogo Bernard Kouchner. En Berlín, peor: el jefe de la diplomacia alemana, Frank-Walter Stenmeier, departió con Lieberman en un restaurante. También viajó a Washington. Y Barack Obama, que había recibido a Netanyahu, al ministro de Defensa, Ehud Barak, y al presidente Simón Peres eludió reunirse con Lieberman. Incluso el mandatario francés, Nicolas Sarkozy, recomendó a Netanyahu deshacerse de su canciller.

Son tiempos de diplomacia desbocada en Oriente Próximo. Obama ha visitado Turquía, Arabia Saudí y Egipto. Ha enviado a emisarios a Siria y el regreso de un embajador estadounidense a Damasco, tras cinco años de ausencia, es inminente. Diplomáticos franceses y británicos se entrevistan con líderes de Hezbolá en Líbano. Y mientras el enviado especial de Obama, George Mitchell, está a punto de aterrizar en Tel Aviv, cunde la sensación de aislamiento en la diplomacia israelí.

Los analistas políticos aseguran que Netanyahu no puede llamar a la Casa Blanca con la facilidad de la que disfrutaban sus predecesores con George Bush. Con Obama no hay sintonía. Y el primer ministro apunta su dedo acusador: Rahm Emmanuel y David Axelrod, asesores del mandatario estadounidense, son los responsables de este desamor. Los tilda de self-hating jews -judíos que se odian a sí mismos-, etiqueta muy en boga para aquellos judíos que critican con acritud las políticas del Ejecutivo israelí.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Lieberman/canciller/grato/elpepuint/20090713elpepiint_11/Tes

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Lieberman's a dick. Both of them.

*spit*

[LeftishBrit]

2. Lieberman is about the most unsuitable choice for Foreign Secretary imaginable

It's as though the French had LePen as Foreign Secretary, or you had Pat Buchanan as Secretary of State.

'With Obama there is no syntony. And prime minister points his accusing finger: Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod, advisers of the American agent chief executive, are the people in charge of this lack of affection. It labels as self-hating jews'...

What IS it about all these paranoid nuts who think that 'Them Jews' are interfering with their access to Obama? As so often, extremes meet...

I must say I like the Babelfish:

'Even the French agent chief executive, Nicholas Sarkozy, recommended to Netanyahu to undo of his chancellor'. And how does Shimon Peres become 'Simon Reps'?

[azurnoir]

3. In effort to improve image, Lieberman may appoint envoy

Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has offered the former head of Israel's New York Consulate a position as his special envoy, the Hebrew news site Inyan Merkazi (Central Issue) reported on Sunday.

The unconfirmed appointment of former Consul General Alon Pinkas to the new position would be viewed as an attempt to break the international boycott of the controversial foreign minister, who remains a resident of an illegal settlement near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

The generally firm worldwide boycott has rendered Lieberman's position virtually meaningless as many of the international community's top diplomats refuse to host him or invite him on official visits, demonstrated last Tuesday when Israeli President Shimon Peres uncharacteristically departed for Egypt in his stead.

While Peres insisted that his meeting with President Hosni Mubarak was not meant to infringe on the foreign minister's role, Cairo's outrage over Lieberman's comments last November urging the Egyptian leader to "go to hell" likely played a roll in Israel's hesitancy to dispatch him there.

The foreign minister has himself noted that his abrasive nature and illegal activities in the West Bank likely ought to be played down with the US, given the new administration's stern demands for an immediate settlement freeze. "There is clearly a conflict of interests here. For me to deal with this issue – it's clear there is an absolute conflict of interests here," Lieberman admitted last week.

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=39189

I would say Mr Pinkas has his work cut out for him

The comments about Rahm Emmanuel lend credence to nickname "Nuttyahoo" and Lieberman well IMO he wouldn't make for a "pleasing" anything that I can think of.