Israeli hardliner commits to peace

ISRAEL’S foreign minister, whose anti-Arab statements have frayed diplomatic nerves, committed himself yesterday to Mideast peace, but did not endorse the idea of a Palestinian state as sought by the United States and the European Union.

As he kicked off a European tour in Rome, hardline politician Avigdor Lieberman skirted around the issue of a Palestinian state, putting him on a possible collision course with US and EU efforts to solve the conflict.

“This government’s goal is not to produce slogans or make pompous declarations, but to reach concrete results,” he said when asked if he would endorse a Palestinian state.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, Lieberman said he was confident the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would “reach a secure and definitive peace with the Palestinians and the Arab nations around us.”

Lieberman stressed the government was still drawing up its new foreign policy, which Netanyahu is expected to unveil before talks with President Barack Obama in mid-May.

Netanyahu, who took office in March, has so far refused to endorse the idea of an independent Palestinian state.

Lieberman, who heads the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu, or “Israel is our home” party, has raised concerns in the West with his fiery rhetoric. In his first speech as foreign minister, he said concessions to Palestinians only invite war, and criticised US peace efforts last year.

At the news conference, Frattini said: “I reminded Minister Lieberman that Europe and the United States agree on the importance of making peace our common goal.”

Frattini, in an interview published on Sunday by Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, said the peace process “must continue on the basis of the principle of two states for two people.”

According to a translation of the interview provided by Italy’s foreign ministry, Frattini said he would ask Lieberman to “tone down his statements and act to create a climate of collaboration.”

Lieberman was scheduled to meet with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi today before continuing on to France, Germany and the Czech Republic.