Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 12, 2009 Tamuz 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 16:35 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  191
Share |
Last update - 00:00 01/07/2009
Netanyahu reaffirms support for Lieberman after Sarkozy remarks
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Nicolas Sarkozy, Israel news 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he has complete confidence in Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a day after Channel 2 reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had told him to "get rid" of Lieberman.

"[He] is fully committed to peace and security," said Netanyahu. "Lieberman constitutes an important part of the elected government of the democratic State of Israel."

The premier made the comments before a group of over 20 European ambassadors at Jerusalem's King David hotel. Netanyahu noted that he had consulted with Lieberman prior to a major foreign policy speech he delivered two weeks ago, in which he declared support for a demilitarized Palestinian state.
Advertisement

"Foreign Minister Lieberman will play an important role in implementing the policy presented in the speech," he said.

During the premier's visit to Paris last week, Sarkozy urged Netanyahu to "get rid" of hard-line Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Channel Two reported on Monday.

Earlier Tuesday, Sarkozy's unusually blunt request sparked a political backlash among Lieberman's allies in Jerusalem.

The second-in-command of Lieberman's Yisrael Beteinu party said Netanyahu should have "banged on the table" in response to Sarkozy's attack on Lieberman.

"It is hard to believe that the leader of a friendly country would express himself in such a way," Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau told Army Radio.

"If I was the prime minister, and those statements were made in my presence, I would have banged on the table and protested," Landau told Army Radio. "That is how a prime minister who preserves his country's dignity should behave."

Foreign Ministry blasts Sarkozy's 'intolerable intervention'

The Foreign Ministry responded to the report by lambasting the French leader for his "intolerable intervention in internal Israeli affairs."

Sarkozy spent a good portion of his meeting with Netanyahu last Wednesday discussing the composition of the Israeli official, according to the report. The presence of three other Israeli officials at the meeting did not deter the French leader from expressing his true opinion of the foreign minister, said Channel Two.

The French president reportedly told Netanyahu that while he usually scheduled talks with Israel's top foreign envoys on visit to Paris he could not bring himself to meet with Lieberman. According to Channel Two, this statement was accompanied by disparaging hand gestures.

Sarkozy then advised Netanyahu to fire Lieberman and bring former foreign minister Tzipi Livni back into the coalition, according to the report. Netanyahu reportedly told Sarkozy that Lieberman came across differently in private than his public appearances would suggest.

French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen also comes across as a nice person in private, Sarkozy reportedly responded, to which Netanyahu replied that Lieberman was not Le Pen and that there was no basis for comparison. Sarkozy then responded that he did not intend to compare.

The prime minister's bureau did not respond to Sarkozy's remarks nor deny them, but the office of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman did respond with a strong condemnation.

"If the words attributed to the president of France are correct, the interference of a president of a respected democratic state in the matters of another democratic state is a grave and intolerable thing. We expect that that regardless of political stance, every political body in Israel will condemn this callous attack by a foreign state in our domestic affairs."

Meanwhile MK Ahmed Tibi welcomed Sarkozy's comments, saying that he hopes "the international community has started to absorb the danger of the fascism" being taught by Lieberman.


Related articles:
  • France seeks Israel support for world peace summit
  • Gaullism is dead, long live Sarkozyism
  • The French-Israeli fairytale
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Historic victory
    Israel reaches Davis Cup tennis semifinals after historic upset win over Russia
    PA's failed leaders
    Uzi Arad tells Haaretz: There is no Palestinian Sadat, no Palestinian Mandela
      1.   Netanyahu is suggesting Sarkozy get to know Leiberman better? 21:42  |  ain`t gonna happen 29/06/09
      2.   Livni refused offer of foreign minister and control of diplomacy 21:45  |  Seth 29/06/09
      3.   Chutzpah. Typical Sarkozy. 21:45  |  Arlette 29/06/09
      4.   Unbelievable, but Israel allows itself to be treated like a child 21:49  |  IW 29/06/09
      5.   Why 21:49  |  ILias 29/06/09
      6.   Sarkozy tells Netanyahu: Get rid of Lieberman 21:50  |  Maury 29/06/09
      7.   Imagine reaction in France if Israel meddled same way 21:51  |  Kenny 29/06/09
      8.   think netanyahu is that stupid?? 21:52  |  vik 29/06/09
      9.   Sarkozy is expressing what a wide swath.... 21:55  |  Esther 29/06/09
      10.   ??? 22:10  |  christoph 29/06/09
      11.   Sarkozy has it right. 22:15  |  StevieT 29/06/09
      12.   Dont! 22:16  |  Mariano 29/06/09
      13.   On Firing Lieberman 22:18  |  Mick 29/06/09
      14.   Why does everyone think they have the .... 22:21  |  Malone 29/06/09
      15.   venir vous voir sur le dévers, il est évident 22:22  |  Indigenous 29/06/09
      16.   Not Surprising 22:23  |  Leor 29/06/09
      17.   If "the french" don`t like Lieberman... 22:23  |  Michael 29/06/09
      18.   Sarkozy, Go to hell 22:26  |  Don Saliman 29/06/09
      19.   the audacity of hope 22:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/06/09
      20.   Well, all you proud Zionists 22:48  |  Axel 29/06/09
      21.   In fact, anywhere Lieberman goes and opens hi mouth... 22:49  |  Esther 29/06/09
      22.   Sarkozy 22:53  |  Rigoletto 29/06/09
      23.   Well, Don #18, he`s not my-cup-of-tea either, heels an` all... 22:56  |  Esther 29/06/09
      24.   Netanyahu should urge Sarkozy 23:03  |  Jennifer 29/06/09
      25.   bibi faield to explain to sakozy that if leiberman goes 23:10  |  v hardman 29/06/09
      26.   #21, Esther 23:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/06/09
      27.   vik--`think netanyahu is that stupid?? ` 23:16  |  yes 29/06/09
      28.   Qualification vs. prestige 23:17  |  Michael 29/06/09
      29.   Friends dare to call a dog a dog 23:19  |  Jeroen de Jager 29/06/09
      30.   Lieberman 23:21  |  Natasha Vidan 29/06/09
      31.   ..And Esther pipes up yet again from .... 23:27  |  Malone 29/06/09
      32.   Teuton Axelchen ,you knew even before Lieberman your Austrian bre 23:37  |  Absolute Sweden 29/06/09
      33.   Who will be Israeli FM decide People of Israel, not Frenchmen 23:44  |  Vittorio 29/06/09
      34.   Lieberman = Next Prime Minister of Israel! 23:48  |  In your face! 29/06/09
      35.   Livni is easy, Sarkosy thinks so, easy to manipulate lady 23:48  |  Mark C 29/06/09
      36.   Sarkozy must want Livni as FM so he can have an affair with her! 23:51  |  Sarkozy=Horny Basard 29/06/09
      37.   Someone is this cynical world has to speak the truth! 00:03  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 30/06/09
      38.   Legally elected 00:05  |  Boris 30/06/09
      39.   Psycho Sarkozy - hahaha 00:07  |  Jose 30/06/09
      40.   Israel never seems to have a problem with telling other nations 00:13  |  Observer 30/06/09
      41.   I urge Sarkozy: get rid of François Fillon 00:17  |  17 30/06/09
      42.   Lieberman: a foreign minister 00:21  |  Axel 30/06/09
      43.   what happend to Israel? 00:34  |  Tony Silver 30/06/09
      44.   Don Saliman on the journey to hell 00:56  |  alan 30/06/09
      45.   NO LEADER SHOULD INTERFERE IN THE CHOICE OF A CABINET MEMBER 01:01  |  FK 30/06/09
      46.   Israel urges French people "get rid of Sarkozy"! 01:13  |  Baruch Gold 30/06/09
      47.   guest etiquette is everything in France 01:37  |  napoleon bonaparte 30/06/09
      48.   Lieberman may already be a defacto foreign minister. 01:38  |  Mark Meyers 30/06/09
      49.   Even Better - Sarkozy To Israeli Foreign Affairs 01:42  |  soeasytomakefriends 30/06/09
      50.   Yes, get rid of Liberman 01:47  |  Normal Israeli 30/06/09
      51.   "Off The Record"? - Highly Likely And Israelis Ignored 01:50  |  chet 30/06/09
      52.   Hey Esther@21 YOU FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE OTHER WORLD BIG MOUTHS! 01:58  |  Whiskey/Bravo 30/06/09
      53.   Haven`t you noticed? Israel is always dictated by 02:01  |  MMM 30/06/09
      54.   France must leave its occupied colonies before lecturing Israel 02:01  |  Dr. L. Brnd 30/06/09
      55.   TO MALONE@? THINKING ABOUT "LEFTISTS" AND.. 02:06  |  Whiskey/Bravo 30/06/09
      56.   Sarkozy/his wife 02:10  |  Brazilian Jew 30/06/09
      57.   it could have been expected sooner 02:19  |  amihai 30/06/09
      58.   Ha! And Sarkozy is now your best friend! 02:20  |  David 30/06/09
      59.   To sarko from me:Go to Hell.Did YOU UTTER THOSE WORDS? I SAY: 02:47  |  Whiskey/Bravo 30/06/09
      60.   Lieberman is an excelleant FM for Israel he is the epitome of it 03:18  |  American in NY 30/06/09
      61.   Lieberman was not elected foriegn minister 03:39  |  Jim the mechanic 30/06/09
      62.   For vik # 8. Sarkozy says it as because he is a friend. 03:49  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/06/09
      63.   kudos to Sarkozy 03:50  |  david 30/06/09
      64.   Please Israel, for the sake of the Jewish people 04:11  |  Joseph 30/06/09
      65.   Sarkozys htuzpah 04:16  |  Tom 30/06/09
      66.   An Edict from Emperor Nicholas the First 04:19  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/09
      67.   I knew that he will be missing Tzipi 04:21  |  Miron 30/06/09
      68.   Libi is a rotten-toothed racist. 04:25  |  Nancy Reagan 30/06/09
      69.   Is Baruch Gold on welfare? 04:27  |  George Bush 30/06/09
      70.   Guess Sarkozy prefers to work with Livni, like US prefers Abbas 04:52  |  Amana Khardous 30/06/09
      71.   #9 Esther, Wide Swath of Israeli population voted for 05:00  |  Canadian Observer 30/06/09
      72.   Lieberman 05:09  |  Sherri 30/06/09
      73.   Who is insulting whom 05:32  |  Bazmann 30/06/09
      74.   Dump Lieberman or Dump Peace 05:34  |  Ed 30/06/09
      75.   compared to Le Pen???? 05:42  |  yuval 30/06/09
      76.   Well, Axel (#20) 06:09  |  Morris Valentine 30/06/09
      77.   Liberman just tells what everyone thinks. 06:48  |  30/06/09
      78.   IW Well isn`t it a child 06:50  |  Chet 30/06/09
      79.   Malone I guess.... 06:53  |  Chet 30/06/09
      80.   Glad to know who are enemies want us to get rid of 07:00  |  Jew 30/06/09
      81.   Sooooo, who leaked this to Haaretz? 07:02  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
      82.   Thank you President Sarkozy 07:05  |  Taillefer 30/06/09
      83.   Canadian Observer Just as Israel will not 07:10  |  Chet 30/06/09
      84.   MK Lieberman is good for Israel.... 07:10  |  The Archives 30/06/09
      85.   Hungarian Jew Sarkozy 07:22  |  AK 30/06/09
      86.   Affairs 07:56  |  John 30/06/09
      87.   Send Him on Tour 08:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
      88.   "disparaging hand gestures" 08:23  |  shtarka 30/06/09
      89.   The Enemies Prefer Lieberman... 08:30  |  Yosemite 30/06/09
      90.   Bibi knew Liebermans issues from the start 08:38  |  Natallie Durson 30/06/09
      91.   Is there any way we can get rid of all three of them? 08:43  |  peacelover 30/06/09
      92.   #58 Don`t you know, shtarka? 08:51  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
      93.   IN FACT I DONT LIKE BOTH. NO. NO. I DONT LIKE FORTH. 08:51  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 30/06/09
      94.   # 47 morris valentine 09:05  |  Axel 30/06/09
      95.   #40, Mark Lincoln 09:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
      96.   A SILVER What happened to Denmark?"all Somalis should be dropped- 09:14  |  PETER SM 30/06/09
      97.   So it is ok to meddle to get rid of Hamas 09:28  |  Apa 30/06/09
      98.   meaning of an expression 09:36  |  Taha Mokhtar 30/06/09
      99.   Sarko, Yahoo, Lieberschmuck 09:36  |  Brian 30/06/09
      100.   PEACELOVER How?The Religion of peace has an endless supply 09:40  |  PETER SM 30/06/09
      101.   Re "Axel" 66 to Morris Valentine 47 09:41  |  17 30/06/09
      102.   drunk sarkozy 09:41  |  minnie 30/06/09
      103.   well, Fortuna, of all the biblical heroes only one had good PR 09:50  |  Miron 30/06/09
      104.   #4 treated like a child 09:55  |  Sikilyamo 30/06/09
      105.   #6 maury 09:58  |  Sikilyamo 30/06/09
      106.   But, why not to interfere? 10:07  |  Anne 30/06/09
      107.   Lieberman is perfect for Bibi - good cop, bad cop. 10:14  |  redbourn 30/06/09
      108.   Don`t like Sarkozy having an opinion 10:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      109.   Condescendingly naive 10:14  |  Ola 30/06/09
      110.   When the Austrians elected Haider... 10:33  |  Sylvie 30/06/09
      111.   Sarkozy advice 11:03  |  igal azuelos 30/06/09
      112.   #106 11:03  |  Jack 30/06/09
      113.   haaretz :) 11:10  |  atilla karagözoğlu 30/06/09
      114.   Sarkozy`s comments. 11:11  |  David Nigel Braham 30/06/09
      115.   atilla karagözoğlu :) 11:11  |  you 30/06/09
      116.   #110 Silvie, light on the horizon, 100 % true 11:12  |  Ardi 30/06/09
      117.   @Vik 11:12  |  ILias 30/06/09
      118.   CHET Does US aid come with the right to appoint Israeli ministers 11:14  |  PETER SM 30/06/09
      119.   MAYBE WE HAVE NO LIFE THAT IS WHY WE WRITE HERE 11:19  |  atilla karagözoğlu 30/06/09
      120.   #76 "austrian corporal" MV 11:31  |  Ardi 30/06/09
      121.   Judging by the foam at the average talkbacker`s mouth, Lieberman 11:43  |  Nemesis 30/06/09
      122.   Sarkozy; we `ll hold onto Lieberman tooth and nail 12:26  |  Alicia 30/06/09
      123.   Sarkozy is right. Will Arabs really take a Russian seriously? 12:34  |  Dan 30/06/09
      124.   `Lieberman v Le Pen` 12:44  |  Roo 30/06/09
      125.   Can I believe what I`m seeing? 12:45  |  Simply Amazed 30/06/09
      126.   Uzi Landau would slam-on-the-table to preserve our dignity... 12:51  |  Esther 30/06/09
      127.   Why, Alaska, Cipora #19...? 12:56  |  Esther 30/06/09
      128.   Simply #125... that`s lovely...! 13:10  |  Esther 30/06/09
      129.   Oye vey, Alicia #122... "tooth-and-nail"...?! 13:14  |  Esther 30/06/09
      130.   Esther and her `wide swath of the Israeli population` 13:26  |  Nemesis 30/06/09
      131.   Lieberman 13:28  |  sh 30/06/09
      132.   #129 Esther "is he worth it" - oh, YES, he is! He`s HONEST! 13:39  |  Alicia 30/06/09
      133.   #107 redbourn 13:46  |  BDS 30/06/09
      134.   Sarkozy has some nerve 13:49  |  Avi 30/06/09
      135.   You want Cohen the Spy on the 6th floor! 13:55  |  Ronnie Wolman 30/06/09
      136.   Yes indeed, Alicia #132, at least he`s honest re nefarious... 14:00  |  Esther 30/06/09
      137.   Oh God I cannot stand all this pressure--not used to it 14:06  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      138.   #136 Esther, in the words of late JFK 14:17  |  Alicia 30/06/09
      139.   meddling 14:17  |  oz 30/06/09
      140.   Sarkozi words were taken out of context 14:27  |  CM 30/06/09
      141.   lieberman 14:30  |  patriot 30/06/09
      142.   To Ardi (#120): "That Austrian corporal" 14:40  |  Morris Valentine 30/06/09
      143.   # 119 atilla karagö - you rerturned as a wiser man 14:42  |  17 30/06/09
      144.   # 142 mv 15:07  |  Axel 30/06/09
      145.   Israel meddles in American politics - openly 15:12  |  Skandar 30/06/09
      146.   so much talk 15:12  |  patriot 30/06/09
      147.   I love it 15:18  |  Skandar 30/06/09
      148.   morris --some names of other tyrants 16:00  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      149.   patriot and his list of tyrants 16:01  |  Yaakov Sullivan 30/06/09
      150.   Too Bad there is no Reality Show 16:40  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/09
      151.   Think Sarkozy cares for Israel, no doubt... 16:40  |  Smadar 30/06/09
      152.   Sarkozy`s only saying what the world thinks. 17:35  |  Michael 30/06/09
      153.   Le Pen or Haider i Austria 17:45  |  I wonder 30/06/09
      154.   Sarkozy doesn`t decide who is in a Israels government 18:12  |  Shepherd 30/06/09
      155.   No Surprise 18:14  |  Vladek 30/06/09
      156.   sarkozy`s hortefeux is not better than liebermann. 18:17  |  yoyo 30/06/09
      157.   Sarkozy changing sides? 18:29  |  Stephen Connor 30/06/09
      158.   # 83 from Nebraska, It so happened that I am married 18:31  |  Canadian Observer 30/06/09
      159.   Lieberman is only the first and surely not last to fail 18:35  |  Kris Lazar 30/06/09
      160.   to PETER SM.... dont´t forget... 18:41  |  Tony Silver 30/06/09
      161.   Lieberman and Netaniahu are the worst faces of jewish people 20:24  |  kaled 30/06/09
      162.   #4 Help menahem Begin come back!!!!! he was so feared By west . 20:25  |  leba 30/06/09
      163.   the rightist Sarkozy says: you are in the extreme right 20:35  |  kaled 30/06/09
      164.   How many muslims votes got Sarkozy for his comments? 20:47  |  Leo 30/06/09
      165.   Netanyahu reafirms support for Lieberman 20:49  |  ih 30/06/09
      166.   Netanyahu reafirms support for Lieberman 20:55  |  ih 30/06/09
      167.   Interesting exchange between #136 Esther & #138 Alicia (4th try) 21:28  |  S 30/06/09
      168.   Morris V speaking of rank ---individuals 3rd try 21:34  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      169.   #108 Chris 21:51  |  Marc 30/06/09
      170.   Sarkozy 21:56  |  Samuel 30/06/09
      171.   Mark Lincoln strikes again # 66 22:20  |  Philippe 30/06/09
      172.   Khaled 22:23  |  Philippe 30/06/09
      173.   For Miron # 103 23:01  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/06/09
      174.   Sarkozy Was Right, of course 23:01  |  Yaakov Sullivan 30/06/09
      175.   For Cipora Julianna Cohn 23:09  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/06/09
      176.   #157 leba and his terrorist heroes 23:11  |  BDS 30/06/09
      177.   What else could Netanyahu do? 23:36  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/09
      178.   For Ronnie Wolman # 135 00:15  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/07/09
      179.   Good post, Joseph # 64 00:26  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/07/09
      180.   Sarcokozy needes some lessons. 02:08  |  Solomon 01/07/09
      181.   this statement was accompanied by disparaging hand gestures 03:26  |  Johnboy 01/07/09
      182.   Joseph, Americans are not turning away from Israel at all just 03:44  |  ks 01/07/09
      183.   Enough 05:32  |  Joe 01/07/09
      184.   sarkozy You! Make judgements. Ha Where is your wife? 05:42  |  Matti Brooks-Miller 01/07/09
      185.   WELL DONE PM. PROUD TO BE A JEW, at long last !!!!! 06:39  |  Alfredo 01/07/09
      186.   Cipora - I dislike Both Sarko and Lieberman 07:36  |  Mark Lincoln 01/07/09
      187.   #45 Skandar, Your statement issmells of Agri Manure hence BS 09:15  |  Israeli Atheist 01/07/09
      188.   Interesting exchange between #136 Esther & #138 Alicia (5th try) 09:21  |  S 01/07/09
      189.   but of course netanyahu reaffirms his support for lieberman 10:22  |  eric 01/07/09
      190.   To Labhras (#158) 13:11  |  Morris Valentine 01/07/09
      191.   TO INDIGEANOUS 17:21  |  KALFA 01/07/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    16:13 Netanyahu: Israel never dallied on Iran nukes
    16:12 Solana to UN: Accept Palestinian state even if Israel does not
    16:14 IDF chief during Lebanon War says he'd do it again
    16:11 Netanyahu says ready for immediate peace talks with Abbas
    16:15 WATCH: The Israel cell phone ad that has Facebook group crying 'racist'
    16:17 Maccabiah athletes offered $3,500 to move to Israel
    11:39 Rolling Stones joins line-up of top rock stars to perform Israel
    22:16 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    02:10 Gaza conflict sparks billboard battle in Texas
    12:01 Palestinians reject any U.S.-Israel deal on settlements
    08:31 Obama eyes progress in Syria ties despite 'troubling behavior'
    15:22 French groups protest verdicts in murder of Jewish man
    09:32 Netanyahu to Israel tennis team: You put Israel back on the map
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved