French, Spanish FMs: Lieberman violated every rule of diplomacy

[bemildred]

:popcorn:

The foreign ministers of Spain and France were furious with their Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, telling him Monday morning during a phone conversation that he had "violated every rule of diplomatic etiquette," an Israeli source reported on Monday.

During a dinner meeting on Sunday, Lieberman told France's Bernard Kouchner and Spain's Miguel Angel Moratinos to "solve your own problems in Europe before you come to us with complaints. Maybe then I will be open to accepting your suggestions."

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Lieberman added that he indeed spoke with Moratinos on the phone and described the conversation as "good." He stressed that he did not reprimand anyone, and said that "we need to stop squirming and stuttering. In Europe they passed the Burka ban law and a Minaret ban and no one got excited about it."

"In the reality of the Middle East, only the strong survive," he added.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/french-spanish-fms-lieberman-violated-every-rule-of-diplomacy-1.318404

[oberliner]

1. He has got to be replaced already

If nothing else, perhaps his behavior will lead to the downfall of his dreadful political party. Or at least do some damage.

[bemildred]

2. Clowns like him are "normal" here in the USA.

But Israel cannot afford clowns.

[aranthus]

5. We can't afford them either. n/t

[bemildred]

7. True, but we used to get away with it back in the day.

But Shrub pretty much spent us into irrelevancy with the bubbles, tax cuts, and wars.

[LeftishBrit]

3. I don't think the words 'Lieberman' and 'diplomacy' belong in the same sentence!

Anyone less suitable for the post of Foreign Secretary (or any government post if it comes to that) would be hard to imagine.

[azurnoir]

4. agreed n/t

[Tripmann]

6. Always the nightclub bouncer thug. I suppose we should at least admire his honesty

compared to the worming and weasling currently being displayed by nethenyahu.

[oberliner]

8. I see nothing to admire about this person

Especially in the position he is in.

Worming and weaseling is exactly what a foreign minister is supposed to do!

I don't mean that, of course, but diplomatic tact certainly should be one of the primary prerequisites for the position, and this man has none.

[Tripmann]

9. You're right. Damn my need to find something good to say about people.

I should have probably said I admire his consistency.