Israeli FM: US Will Accept Any Israeli Decision

Lieberman Also Declares Afghanistan, Pakistan a Threat to Israel

by Jason Ditz, Antiwar.com, April 24, 2009

Russian-born Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman gave his first major interview since taking office to Russia’s Moskovskiy Komosolets, and spelled out his rather unique foreign policy position, in addition to making some rather bold assertions.

In particular, Lieberman insisted that despite America’s support for the “two-state solution” which the Israeli administration has rejected, President Obama will not put forth any new peace initiatives unless Israel wants them to. “Believe me,” Lieberman declared, “American accepts all our decisions.”

He also, rather surprisingly, said that Iran is not the Israel’s biggest strategic threat. Instead, Lieberman bestowed that honor collectively on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan could fall, forming “a contiguous area of radicalism ruled in the spirit of Osama bin Laden.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned Lieberman’s comments as “unwarranted,” and said “any efforts to malign or isolate Pakistan will not succeed.” So far US officials have not commented on Lieberman’s assertion that Pakistan imperils Israel or the claims that America will accept whatever decisions the Netanyahu government makes.

Tags: FM Avigdor Lieberman, Israel, Netanyahu government, United States