Barak slams Lieberman's anti-Abbas stance

Defense Minster Ehud Barak leveled scathing criticisms at comments made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in New York in recent days.

The foreign minister made a series of comments against Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas before his counterparts from other countries, and reportedly suggested that Israel cease supporting the Fatah Palestinian leadership.

Speaking to associates, Barak said, "Lieberman's comments on the Palestinian Authority and its head do not represent the state of Israel, and harm the Israeli interest. If Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abas) and Salam Fayad won't rule Judea and Samaria, as Lieberman dreams they won't, Hamas will."

Barak signaled his intent to turn to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with an urgent request to hold a meeting on Israeli policy toward the Palestinian Authority.