Livni: Lieberman ruined years of peace efforts in just 20 minutes

In an interview with Israel Radio, the Kadima chairwoman said she had expected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce that he did not share Lieberman’s expressed sentiments, and was disappointed that such clarification was not made.

Meanwhile, outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert said on Thursday that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process kick-started in Annapolis bolstered international recognition of Israel. Speaking at a farewell event organized by his Kadima party, Olmert responded to Lieberman’s disparaging that Israel was not bound by the framework of the U.S.-sponsored summit.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1076196.html

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Likud in turmoil after Netanyahu-Shalom meeting canceled

The chasm between Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud MK and chief party rival Silvan Shalom is growing ever wider Tuesday after a meeting scheduled to resolve the row over the latter’s role in the next government was postponed indefinitely.

Hours before Netanyahu’s government is to be sworn in at the Knesset in Jerusalem, it is unclear if and when the two will meet to patch up their differences.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075193.html

Ramzy Baroud: Netanyahu and the Future of the Peace Process

“The leaders of Israel’s major parties are almost interchangeable: even their language is the same, archaic and confrontational. Why then the panic over the future of the peace process. As far as Gaza is concerned, it matters little whether the over 1,400 people killed in 22 days were blown up by a Likud revisionist, a Labour dove or a Kadima peacemaker. This, though, is something an envoy like Blair doesn’t seem to understand.”

For full article, visit http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14953

Israel Election Results

Source:  http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1061917.html

Nimer Sultany: Lieberman is no abnormality

“Likewise, it would be mistaken to think of the rise of Avigdor Lieberman and his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, as a major development or as the main source of concern for the Palestinians. Focusing on Lieberman (charitably called by the Guardian a “hardliner”) distracts the discussion from the real issues to the person of one unpleasant politician who says ignominious things others are generally unwilling to say. This logic seems to suggest that the political disappearance of Lieberman will bring about a serendipitous resolution of major problems in the Middle East. Lieberman, however, only exacerbates an already existing problem, and he cannot be easily dismissed as a marginal case of excess or abnormality of the Israeli political system.”

It would be mistaken to think of the rise of Avigdor Lieberman as a major development or as the main source of concern for the Palestinians.

Source: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10420.shtml