Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki on Sunday called Israel Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman's views on his country "racist." "Egypt does not dictate to any country the formation of its government," he said in an interview with Israel Radio. "This is a consistent policy and I don't believe it is appropriate to change this policy now… But of course this person has had racist positions toward Egypt before."
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
Lieberman has in the past denounced Egypt, despite its peace treaty with Israel, and once suggested that in the event of war with Cairo, Israel should destroy the Aswan dam on the Nile.
On the issue of a cease-fire or tahadiyeh between Israel and Hamas, Zaki said Egypt was exerting great efforts to remove remaining obstacles, and hoped it would soon be able to announce understandings and agreements between the sides.
Concerning the kind of Israeli government Egypt would like to see in Israel, he said, "the next government in Israel should be a government that is committed to achieving peace on all tracks." Regarding the Palestinian track, the Israeli government should be committed to a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to the same degree discussed in recent years, Zaki told the radio station.
A future government should be a partner in achieving peace and not retreat from the agreements and understandings that Israelis and Palestinians have already reached, he added.
