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Last update - 01:59 20/06/2009
Lieberman: Settlements are not obstacle to peace
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Israel news, settlements 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Friday that he believed the U.S. and Israel will resolve their differences over Jewish settlements, and accused the Palestinians of using the issue to avoid peace talks.

Talking to reporters after meeting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the U.S., Lieberman said settlements are not an obstacle to peace, and reiterated that Israel is ready to resume direct talks with the Palestinians immediately.

"The settlements are not an obstacle to advancing peace," Lieberman said on Friday. "In the 19 years before 1967, there were no settlements but there was terror. During the disengagement, Israel evacuated 24 settlements and in response got Hamas rule in Gaza and rockets on Sderot."
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"It's very clear that ... the settlements ... [are] an excuse for those that tried to avoid any peace talks," he said.

Ban, meanwhile, stressed that settlement construction must end and warned of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He also spoke with Lieberman about the growing nuclear crisis in North Korea.

This visit marked Lieberman's first to the UN since he was appointed foreign minister. He is scheduled to fly to Canada Sunday for a brief visit.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a backer of Jewish settlers, insists that construction must be allowed to continue to accommodate natural growth of the settler population in the West Bank through births and marriages.

The Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza Strip for their future state and say they won't renew peace talks until Israel agrees to freeze settlement construction and negotiate Palestinian statehood.

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is backing the Palestinians on the settlement issue - demanding a freeze in hopes of promoting peace talks, encouraging the Arab world to make overtures toward Israel, and improving U.S. relations with Arab states.

Neither side gave any ground when Lieberman met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday in Washington.

"It's not a main issue in our region," Lieberman said, adding: "If I try to compare what happens now in Iran and what happens in Afghanistan and in Pakistan to the problem of the settlements, it's very clear what ... must be the priority of the international community," Lieberman said Friday.

When asked whether the dispute with the U.S. can be resolved, Lieberman, speaking in English, said "we have one disagreement, and I think that even in this point we can formulate understandings - we can achieve understandings."

Later, speaking in Hebrew, he said Israel was working hard to reach an agreement with the U.S. and referred to Netanyahu's speech earlier this month in which he endorsed the idea of a Palestinian state for the first time.

"I believe that after the prime minister's speech, there is a new positive approach to this issue, and even there we'll find a formula that will bridge the differences," Lieberman said.

The settlement issue is expected to dominate Netanyahu's meeting next week with U.S. special Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell.

Netanyahu's endorsement of the idea of a Palestinian state listed a series of conditions rejected by the Palestinians - including a refusal to share control over the holy city of Jerusalem, demilitarization of a Palestinian state, and recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. But Lieberman said there is now a chance to start a dialogue with the Palestinians.

"We don't have any precondition," Lieberman said. "I think that we [have a] right for our position. The Palestinians have [a] right for their position and ... it's important to start with talks without preconditions and every side will try to convince the other side."

Lieberman, who is a settler, is the founder of the Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) Party, which draws support from Russian-speaking immigrants like himself. But his hard-line rhetoric has won a large following beyond that base.

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  • Lieberman: Israel wants direct talks with PA, Syria and Saudis
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      1.   Exactly on the money 02:14  |  judith 20/06/09
      2.   Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat 02:14  |  Harold 20/06/09
      3.   Settlements 02:23  |  Mark 20/06/09
      4.   Leberman is not only a settler but an occupier 02:43  |  FK 20/06/09
      5.   Leberman`s readiness 02:57  |  John Swanston 20/06/09
      6.   Lieberman`s English accent is quite funny 03:06  |  Paul 20/06/09
      7.   It really hurts 03:08  |  WHG 20/06/09
      8.   More laughs than a barrel full of monkeys 03:10  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/09
      9.   Right on Lieberman, they just demand and demand 03:19  |  JP 20/06/09
      10.   Harold 2 03:24  |  ChanahS 20/06/09
      11.   True it will always be something 03:28  |  Baruch Gold 20/06/09
      12.   Jew cannot be occupier in Land of Israel 03:29  |  Settler 20/06/09
      13.   Equitable solution - For every settler in the West Bank, 03:29  |  Observer 20/06/09
      14.   Settlement are a good excuse 03:30  |  Jasper 20/06/09
      15.   1.Israel is to cease it occupation and settlement expansion 03:40  |  lydia 20/06/09
      16.   Excuses excuses 03:44  |  Matthew Houston 20/06/09
      17.   Great, Observer #7! A million Palestinian settlers ARE in Israel! 03:49  |  Dr. L. Brnd 20/06/09
      18.   Equitable solution - For every Jew returning from West Bank, 03:50  |  Bruce 20/06/09
      19.   equitable solution 04:10  |  voice of reason 20/06/09
      20.   Stealing your land is a sign we really like you 04:15  |  Lügerman 20/06/09
      21.   Zionsim needs to be rolled back 04:17  |  Harold 20/06/09
      22.   Lieberman trying to sell snake oil 04:25  |  Harold 20/06/09
      23.   #3 Mark Montreal 04:30  |  Ami 20/06/09
      24.   Equitable Solution: For Every Jew driven out from Arab countries 04:36  |  Rob 20/06/09
      25.   "mendacious jews" Lydia. Have Saudis been willing to negotiate??? 04:40  |  Eve 20/06/09
      26.   Yeah, that`s right.... they love being under occupation! 04:45  |  Johnboy 20/06/09
      27.   #13 be careful what you wish for 04:51  |  Daniel 20/06/09
      28.   Is it his English or comperehsion? 05:16  |  David 20/06/09
      29.   Since 1948 05:19  |  Arnold 20/06/09
      30.   Palestinian Preconditions 05:25  |  Jeff Northridge 20/06/09
      31.   Get Rid of Setttlements, and Get Rid of Their Excuse 05:28  |  Joseph Blough 20/06/09
      32.   #11 Baruch Gold tell the truth you must have laughed out loud too 05:36  |  jim the mechanic 20/06/09
      33.   Get the pizza negotiations done ... 05:38  |  Jasper 20/06/09
      34.   tell you what settler 05:44  |  land of who? 20/06/09
      35.   Natural Growth Should Naturally Occur Within Pre-1967 Israel`s 05:53  |  Joseph Blough 20/06/09
      36.   Re: Equitable solution - For every Jew returning from West Bank, 06:01  |  Oriv 20/06/09
      37.   #12 If the Land of Israel is more important... 06:04  |  Avshalom Beni 20/06/09
      38.   Re: #13 be careful what you wish for 06:22  |  Oriv 20/06/09
      39.   Lieberman, the man and the politician 06:44  |  Chappaqua neighbor 20/06/09
      40.   AVIGDOR, SETTLEMENTS NOT IMPORTANT?? 07:28  |  Adam 20/06/09
      41.   The settlers. 07:35  |  Lane 20/06/09
      42.   Lieberman and capability 07:41  |  Zollikon 20/06/09
      43.   No 38 - Exactly! 07:45  |  Palestinian Brit 20/06/09
      44.   He`s an illegal immigrant 07:50  |  Marilyn 20/06/09
      45.   We love Liberman and his supporters 07:51  |  Texas Matt 20/06/09
      46.   #30, Jeff Northridge 07:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/06/09
      47.   Lieberman=Bush 07:59  |  Rey 20/06/09
      48.   #23 Ami: You are mistaken. 08:22  |  Ryan 20/06/09
      49.   Lieberman Claim - What a Farce 08:37  |  Bill 20/06/09
      50.   Ethnic cleansing is a good excuse 08:37  |  Basil 20/06/09
      51.   Palestinian rights. 08:48  |  Iain 20/06/09
      52.   Israel-s leadership deficit 08:58  |  zollikon 20/06/09
      53.   The tide has turned 10:30  |  Natallie Durson 20/06/09
      54.   Surely if settlements are not an obstacle to peace 10:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/06/09
      55.   POST MODERN 11:03  |  playwrite 20/06/09
      56.   to #23. Ami 11:13  |  mark 20/06/09
      57.   Ignorant Oriv on JEWS applying for citizenship 11:25  |  Ari ben Yisrael 20/06/09
      58.   To #3: Arabs are building setllements inside Israel 11:38  |  Mark 20/06/09
      59.   #1 - 1967? Ancient history surely! 11:51  |  Adam 20/06/09
      60.   #37 Avshalom,thats the idea for rational and 12:21  |  Ardi 20/06/09
      61.   it`s the settlements, stupid! 12:47  |  Juges 20/06/09
      62.   Ami # 23 - "what are the Israeli Arabs?" 13:14  |  Nahman Umani 20/06/09
      63.   Well that`s certainly a matter of opinion. 13:28  |  Mickle 20/06/09
      64.   and being corrupt is no obstacle to being Foreign Minister... 13:40  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 20/06/09
      65.   LIEBERMAN 13:45  |  OZ 20/06/09
      66.   obstacle 13:58  |  Patriot 20/06/09
      67.   Lieberman is 100% correct 13:59  |  Avi 20/06/09
      68.   Where is Swanston wrong? 14:38  |  Avi 20/06/09
      69.   Tired of hearing Israel be labeled as the occupier 14:47  |  Avi 20/06/09
      70.   occupying what is the question , illlegal is not the answer 15:08  |  v hardman 20/06/09
      71.   if settlements are not an obstacle 15:30  |  rm 20/06/09
      72.   Joseph Blough # 31 & 35 There`s A Few Problems With That 15:35  |  Jeff Northridge 20/06/09
      73.   the settlements AND Lieberman are obstacle to peace.. 15:38  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 20/06/09
      74.   Today settlements are the greatest obstacle to peace.... 15:45  |  Esther 20/06/09
      75.   Israeli Arabs and Jewish Settlers 15:48  |  ChanahS 20/06/09
      76.   really.... 15:52  |  edgar 20/06/09
      77.   Observer #13... and for every dunam of settlement area... 15:54  |  Esther 20/06/09
      78.   Bruce #18... the Israeli Arabs are simply continueing to live 16:04  |  Esther 20/06/09
      79.   #13 Observer - Your "equitable solution" exists in practice 16:52  |  Yonatan 20/06/09
      80.   #59esther lives in a coccoon of her own making 17:24  |  vhardman 20/06/09
      81.   Is Lieberman foolish or is he pretending to be a fool? 17:33  |  Fed up 20/06/09
      82.   Reported without nuance in the rest of the world 17:33  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/09
      83.   Settlements 17:40  |  Joe Kelsall 20/06/09
      84.   edgar #61... there are mirrors and there are other mirrors... 17:45  |  Esther 20/06/09
      85.   Clever manuevering 17:49  |  Witness 20/06/09
      86.   Tom #58... you`ve encompassed it all beautifully... 17:51  |  Esther 20/06/09
      87.   Obfuscation 18:15  |  Fred 20/06/09
      88.   ChanahS #60... the comparison that you make is tedentious... 18:15  |  Esther 20/06/09
      89.   ChanahS it works both ways 18:23  |  ibiscus 20/06/09
      90.   to LIEBERMAN 18:27  |  palestinian refugee 20/06/09
      91.   If settlements are not an obstacle to peace 18:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/06/09
      92.   Observer 19:24  |  Dan 20/06/09
      93.   clown 20:08  |  second try 20/06/09
      94.   #60 ChanahS 20:34  |  Apa 20/06/09
      95.   Ami 20:36  |  Mike from Boston 20/06/09
      96.   #63, Mark Lincoln 20:49  |  Bruce 20/06/09
      97.   The Arab settlements we never hear about 21:41  |  peter 20/06/09
      98.   #1 judith and no peace before settlements 00:27  |  hala 21/06/09
      99.   Livni has said the same, Kadima, Likud and Labor agree 05:03  |  American in NY 21/06/09
      100.   #23Ami.Toto.1.500.000.Arabs R there because they BORN there. 00:59  |  Emily 22/06/09
      101.   #72 Such illogical nonsense, Jeff Part 1 07:00  |  Johnboy 22/06/09
      102.   #72 Such illogical nonsense, Jeff Part 2 07:05  |  Johnboy 22/06/09
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