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"Imposed" Mideast solution would stoke violence: Israel FM

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Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during a news conference in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, March 4, 2010. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during a news conference in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, March 4, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Gil Cohen Magen

JERUSALEM | Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:21pm EDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - In a veiled warning to President Barack Obama, Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that any move to impose a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians would lead to greater conflict.

"Any attempt to force a solution on the parties without establishing the foundation of mutual trust will only deepen the conflict," Avigdor Lieberman told the assembled diplomatic corps at an event marking Israel's Independence Day.

Though he made no reference to the United States, the remark appeared to be a response to recent speculation in Washington that Obama may consider proposing a peace settlement in the absence of a negotiated deal between the Palestinians and Israel.

Lieberman, who leads a far-right, pro-settler party in the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that before negotiating a final settlement of the 62-year-old conflict, it would be necessary first to establish "a new reality" in which Israel enjoys security, the Palestinians greater prosperity and both sides more stability.

He also told the assembled ambassadors in the grounds of the presidential residence in Jerusalem that Israel would never give up its control of all of Jerusalem, a city at the heart of the conflict.

Many foreign powers support a negotiated settlement of the dispute over Jerusalem that would satisfy Palestinian aspirations to have the capital of their future state in East Jerusalem, which Israel seized in a war in 1967.

(Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; editing by Andrew Roche)
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Comments (18)
jerryatric wrote:
After 3 wars started by the Arab Countries, I think Israel has every right to Jerusalem.
When Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Queda, all have,as their stated goal, “the total destruction of Israel & drive their people into the sea” I don’t see how an imposed settlement is realistic. FIRST have all the Arabs recognize Israel’s rioght to esist, then negotiate without Jerusalem.
NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS THE MORAL RIGHT TO IMPOSE A SETTLEMENT. Certainly not the U.S. now.
Who will guareantee Israel’s security? The U.S. E.U. U.N. I DON’T THINK SO. Israel alone is responsible for SAFE- SECURE borders.

Apr 20, 2010 12:08pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
ner30 wrote:
The prior comment is incredibly well stated. How can there be any progress when unity does not even exist between the Palestinian people (in the West Bank there is Fatah and in Gaza there is Hamas two rival organizations). Israel is not to blame nor is Israel responsible for anything that is going on. The Palestinian people need to work on peace amongst themselves before they can even begin negotiations with Israel. Obama is only making things worst.

Apr 20, 2010 12:37pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Kirkster wrote:
The continuing inability of the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a settlement – coupled with the increasing threats to the security of the western nations that have bankrolled most of the aid to the two sides – make an “imposed” settlement increasingly attractive. After the 9/11 attacks, the London bombings, Madrid, etc., it’s clear that Israel won’t stop building in (illegally) occupied land, and Hamas won’t give up its rocket campaign without the U.S. twisting arms. The U.S. has ALWAYS guaranteed the safety of Israel; to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. Obama – take all three parties into a room and offer the carrot AND the stick. The rest of the planet is tired of paying the price of their failures.

Apr 20, 2010 12:50pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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