Posted on 06/30/2010 6:24:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - An independent Palestinian state won't happen until 2012, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said after meeting with his Russian counterpart Tuesday.
Lieberman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also apparently disagreed during their meeting in Jerusalem about Russia's efforts to include Hamas in Middle East peace talks, Haaretz reported..
"There is absolutely no chance of reaching a Palestinian state until the year 2012," Lieberman said, adding, "(One) can dream and imagine, but we are far from reaching an agreement."
Israel's Foreign Ministry last month criticized Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's call to involve Hamas in the region's peace process, comparing the organization to Chechen rebels.
"Developed countries cannot separate terrorists into good ones and bad ones based on their geographic location," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In Tuesday's meeting, Lieberman reportedly told Lavrov Israel opposed Russia's recent overtures toward Hamas, Haaretz said, with Lavrov claiming it isn't possible to ignore the Islamic organization's popularity among Palestinians.
The disagreement became public when Lavrov openly defended his country's Middle East policy during a joint news conference with Lieberman.
"Russia is doing the right thing by contacting Hamas," Lavrov said, adding that "doing nothing would help no one."
"In all our talks with Hamas we have tried to convince them to switch to the political track, and support the Arab peace initiative," Lavrov said.
Lavrov and Lieberman also disagreed on how to the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks should proceed, with Lavrov saying negotiations must be advanced, possibly through a joint commission that would include representatives of the Arab League and the Quartet of Middle East peace talks.
Lieberman defended Israel's efforts to conduct indirect negotiations with the Palestinians in advance of face-to-face negotiations, Haaretz said. However, the Israeli official expressed pessimism about an agreement being reached.
Lieberman also said Israel doesn't intend to continue the freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank after September, saying Israel has made overtures to Palestinians about the issue and they should reciprocate.
"In all our talks with Hamas we have tried to convince them to switch to the political track, and support the Arab peace initiative," Lavrov said... Lieberman also said Israel doesn't intend to continue the freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank after September, saying Israel has made overtures to Palestinians about the issue and they should reciprocate.The very act of negotiating with the Koranimals is a losing proposition, and should never be availed of -- unless one is only using the time to reload and upgrade systems for the next round. And make sure the aims of such a war are not limited. Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.
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