Bibi should be so forthright.
Avigdor Lieberman warns that any future rocket fire from Gaza will mandate ‘full invasion of Strip’
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented Tuesday on the Palestinian threat to seek ICC action over Israel’s plans to build 3,000 new housing units in the West Bank, saying that Israel
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“Has to be clear: If the Palestinians want peace – they’ll get peace. If they want war – they’ll get war.”
Speaking at a Hanukkah event held by Yisrael Beiteinu in Tel Aviv, Lieberman also stated that any future rocket fire from the Strip would mandate not just an IDF incursion of the enclave, but a full-blown invasion.
“Any rocket attack mandates a wide-scale ground invasion of Gaza… Such an operation shouldn’t be restricted by any means, it should see (the IDF) take full control of Gaza. We have no other choice – the world needs to know that.”
He further blasted the Left, and especially Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich, Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-On and Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni for siding with the Palestinian Authority.
“I’m bothered by the fact that some Israeli politicians keep saying that ‘Abu Mazen is a peace partner.’ They repeat that like parakeets.
“I listened hard and I tried to hear Gal-On, Yachimovich and Livni denounce the attacks against Israel, but all I heard were attacks on Israel,” Lieberman said.
Lieberman further said that only the joint Likud-Beiteinu ticket can lead Israel: “Can Galon handle security problems? Can those two blabbermouths, Yachimovich and Herzog, deal with the threats Israel faces? Maybe Livni and Mitzna? We’ve already seen what they can do.
Addendum
Liberman, in a tough speech in Tel Aviv on diplomatic issues delivered to Yisrael Beytenu activists, said the PA owed Israel NIS 1.6 billion.
“They can forget about seeing a single agora for the next four months,” he said, referring to the NIS 400 million in tax and tariff revenue that Israel collects for the PA and normally passes on to it each month.
Liberman said the funds to be withheld were not Palestinian money, but rather money the PA owed Israel for giving it advances earlier this year enabling it to pay salaries, and to cover debts it owed for electricity, water and other services to Israeli companies.
“First we will get back what we are owed, and then after four months we will check and see what to do,” Liberman said. Israel paid NIS 900m. to pay PA debts, and advanced it another NIS 700m. to pay salaries, he said.
“Only Netanyahu and Lieberman can handle the problems Israel face,” he declared.
The foreign minister also leveled criticism at the IDF soldiers who fled a stone-throwing mob in the West Bank last week, saying that “Soldiers choose to flee instead of shooting because they fear being investigated by the Military Police.”
What about the bogus ‘2 state’ position? Surely Lieberman doesn’t believe that anytime soon (not in our lifetime anyways) would it make sense to hand over Judea and Samaria to a bunch of Arabs lead by a terrorist regime by the name of the PA. There are many arguments on both sides as to whether giving the area up or holding on to it is the right or wrong thing to do. But no one can argue that giving it up will surely result in more rockets or worse. Moshe Feiglin has it right: Most Arabs would be happy to leave the ‘West Bank’ to a better life elsewhere but lack the funds to do so. Simply put, Israel needs to pay them to go. The rest who insist on remaining would be forced to leave at gunpoint. Then Israel formally annexes the area and builds badly needed housing, agriculture and would be a boon to the economy.
If Bibi doesn’t have the balls to do it, get someone else who does.
I believe Liberman is right on the money. The only way to deal with the Arabs is by being strong and not week. In my humble opinion Natanyahu should declare once and for all to the whole world, that if the Palestinians are really interested in peace, then it is up to them to call and make an offer. Otherwise all peace talks are being shelved until we hear otherwise from our neighbors.
Rahamim
Lieberman is almost as tough as Sharon.
And almost as “right wing”.
“Soldiers choose to flee instead of shooting because they fear being investigated by the Military Police”
Well someone take responsibility and ORDER them to shoot.
Duh!
Tough talk but can he walk the walk?
Come on guy, use it or lose it. I believe it when I see it.
These liberal yentas are unable to protect Israel.