Israeli ultra-nationalist to handle Iranian nuclear threat

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"EHUD Olmert, Israel's prime minister, yesterday put a controversial ultra-nationalist in charge of handling Israeli policy towards Iran's nuclear programme as part of a deal to broaden his troubled coalition.

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the anti-Arab Yisrael Beiteinu party, is to become deputy prime minister and minister responsible for handling strategic threats - with Iran's development of a nuclear capability foremost among them.

Mr Olmert has said that Mr Lieberman, who is accused by critics of having authoritarian tendencies, would be bound by coalition guidelines. But Mr Lieberman told his party yesterday after the meeting with Mr Olmert that the guidelines were worthless, likening them to a chicken slaughtered in advance of the Day of Atonement.

Mr Lieberman said his party was joining the government to deal with what he termed the No 1 problem on Israel's agenda: "The Iranian threat and the axis of evil that includes Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas."

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1571352006



Far-right party to join shaky Israeli coalition

<snip>

"Israel's shaky six-month-old government was bolstered after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reached an agreement for an extreme-right party to join the coalition."

<snip>

"It was announced after Olmert held an hour of talks with Lieberman, who is known for his outspoken attacks on Israeli Arabs.

The premier, who has come under heavy fire over the government's handling of the month-long war in Lebanon, said Lieberman will serve as deputy prime minister and strategic affairs minister, a new portfolio.

Lieberman himself, meeting Yisrael Beitenu MPs after the meeting, told reporters that "the number one problem that Israel is facing today is the Iranian problem."

Israel, widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, claims Iran is aiming to develop the atomic bomb, a charge Tehran denies.

"I do not intend to talk. I intend to act. One shouldn't talk much," the 48-year-old Russian born politician told party MPs."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061023/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelpolitics_061023191707

[IndianaGreen]

1. Lieberman and his party are fascists

This is a desperation move by Olmert who is terrified of being forced into a new election against Bibi Netanyahu and his Likud.

In American politics it would be called "covering your right flank."

[whistle]

2. Tomorrow's headlines read: "Lieberman orders strikes on Iran

....Nuclear Facilities", and "Lieberman calls Lamont an SOB":rofl:

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Israeli Arab leader calls Yisrael Beiteinu 'fascist party'

Chairman of the Israeli Arab High Committee, Shuweiki Hatib, on Sunday dubbed Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu a "fascist party" and called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to quit from the coalition talks with Lieberman. Speaking at a press conference to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kafr Qassem massacre, Hatib said "the existence of political figures calling for transfer , must light a red light for Israeli society."

The anniversary marks a massacre that took place on the first day of the Sinai War, October 29, 1956. Three Border Policemen who were ordered to shoot dead any person who violated the curfew on the village of Kafr Qassem, killed 47 of the village residents who returned by foot from work, unaware of the curfew that had been placed.

Hatib tried to link the intention to join Lieberman to the coalition with the incident. He said that the same atmosphere that prevailed back in the 1950s still exists today. According to Hatib, the massacre embodied the wish to expel the Arabs, which is identical with the spirit behind Lieberman's plan to relocate the Arab residents of an area known as the Triangle of Arab communities, to the Palestinian Authority.

Chairman of Ra'am-Ta'al Sheikh Ibrahim Tzartzur has said the Arab parties fear that Lieberman's bid to raise the threshold for gaining seats at the Knesset to 10 percent "is first and foremost aimed to eliminate the Arab parties."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777879.html

[IndianaGreen]

4. Many Israelis see Avigdor Lieberman as a fascist as well

Olmert is trying to prop up his coalition fearful that Labour may bolt.

[villager]

5. Maybe Labour should bolt now

Unless that just assures Netanhayu's arrival in the PM's office...

[Scurrilous]

6. Lieberman is a strategic threat

<snip>

"In a cynical move with few parallels in Israeli politics, the cabinet voted on Sunday in favor of Avigdor Lieberman's proposal for amending the system of government. Most cabinet members oppose the proposal, so when they voted for it, they knew that they were being untrue to themselves.

Particularly egregious was Minister of Pensioner Affairs Rafi Eitan, who said that he voted in favor because he knew this terrible proposal has no chance of making it through the Knesset. The reason that most cabinet members voted for the bill was their desire to stay in power at any price.

Lieberman is entering the government with a big wink. He knows that the system of government will not be changed, but he also knows that he has managed to do something that, until Sunday, seemed impossible - to secure himself the most sensitive post in the country, minister in charge of strategic threats.

The choice of the most unrestrained and irresponsible man around for this job constitutes a strategic threat in its own right. Lieberman's lack of restraint and his unbridled tongue, comparable only to those of Iran's president, are liable to bring disaster down upon the entire region."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/778468.html