Liberman: We won't be held hostage by coalition
04/03/2012 20:19
FM complains about handling of Hebron, Migron, but tells Israel Beiteinu faction "we don't want elections now for 1000 reasons."
Lieberman, Israel Beiteinu pre-Rosh Hashana toast Photo: Benjamin Spier
Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman warned Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
in a speech to his supporters in Jerusalem that his party would reserve the
freedom to act independently despite its partnership in the
government.
Speaking at a pre-Passover toast attended by hundreds of
Israel Beiteinu activists, Liberman complained about the handling of Hebron,
Migron, criteria for housing benefits and conscription to the IDF.
He
said Israel Beiteinu would promote its own initiatives and legislation on such
controversial issues.
“We don’t want elections now for 1,000 reasons, but
if someone thinks we are hostages because of coalition agreements, and because
of my legal procedures, they are mistaken,” Liberman said.
“We expect
decisive decisions to be made and not further stalling.”
Liberman
complained about unilateral steps taken by other coalition partners like Shas
and Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Independence Party.”
“The dissonance
between Migron and Hebron is disturbing,” he said. “Migron is being told to
evacuate because of the right of purchase but in Hebron the settlers are being
told to leave despite the right of purchase.
In light of what happened in
Migron, what is happening in Hebron is difficult to digest. It is a terrible
mistake for the coalition.”
Noting complaints by Liberman and other
political allies, Netanyahu said in an interview with Ma’ariv that even though
he won’t advance elections, he is not sure his coalition partners will not take
steps to overthrow him and cause elections sooner than he would
want.
Liberman praised the decision of the International Criminal Court
in the Hague that it does not have the authority to deal with a complaint by the
Palestinians against Israel on Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.
He
said the Palestinians were doing everything possible to blacken Israel’s name
around the world.
“When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is
called a man of peace, it’s like calling black white and white black,” he said.
“He will never reach an agreement with Israel. He will continue to condemn,
attack, extort Israel’s money and stay in power as long as possible. We need a
new approach.”