World would sacrifice Israel - Lieberman
2012-12-12 21:57
Jerusalem - Israel's hawkish foreign minister lashed out
at the international community on Wednesday, criticising its policies toward
the Palestinians and charging that many world leaders would readily sacrifice
Israel to radical Islam just as Europe appeased the Nazis before World War II.
Avigdor Lieberman hit back at European foreign ministers
for condemning Israel's plans to build settler housing in an especially
sensitive area of the West Bank.
He also accused the international community of ignoring
threats to Israel, including weapons smuggling by Palestinian militants and
calls for Israel's destruction from Palestinian Hamas militants and Iran.
On Tuesday night, Lieberman said some of his European
counterparts "regard Israel's destruction as a given”.
On Wednesday, he
accused Europeans of being prepared to abandon Israel as they gave up
Czechoslovakia to the Nazis on the eve of World War II.
"Expressions and promises of commitment to Israel's
security from all around the world reminds me of similar commitments made to
Czechoslovakia in 1938," Lieberman told a diplomatic conference, invoking
an analogy he has used before.
"My sense is that all the promises and commitments
to Israel's security are mere words," he said, speaking English.
"When push comes to shove, many key leaders would be
willing to sacrifice Israel without batting an eyelid, in order to appease the
radical Islamist militants and ensure quiet for themselves," he said.
Mark Regev, a spokesperson for the prime minister, would
not comment when asked if Lieberman's criticisms reflected government policy or
his personal opinion.
The blunt-talking Lieberman appeared to be heating up his
rhetoric ahead of Israel's 22 January election in an effort to impress hawkish
voters.
His Yisrael Beitenu Party is running on a joint list with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. Polls indicate the combined slate will
finish first, and Netanyahu will keep his job.
- AP
