JERUSALEM – Israel’s hardline Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday that US President Barack Obama’s vision for Middle East peace was unrealistic.
‘Bringing President Obama’s dream to fruition in two years, including an overall agreement and a (Palestinian) state, is an unrealistic goal,’ Lieberman said after the weekly cabinet meeting.The controversial minister, who heads the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, said a peace deal was unlikely – even by 2025.’When we signed the Oslo Accords … we conceitedly set the goal of an overall agreement within five years,’ he said. ‘Sixteen years have passed since then. Even in another 16 years, we won’t have an agreement.’The 1993 accords, signed by then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, set out a five-year plan for Palestinian self-rule with the goal of holding final status negotiations to replace the arrangement.Lieberman said the foreign ministry had wasted the intervening years by concerning itself too much with Palestinian interests.’One of the foreign ministry’s mistakes was to turn itself into a ministry for Palestinian affairs,’ he said. ‘I have no intention of doing that, no plans for obsessive engagement.’ Obama has repeatedly called for Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world to take concrete steps to revive the stalled peace process. – Nampa-AFP
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
