Israeli foreign minister says no peace deal now
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said there was no chance of a final accord with the Palestinians soon, deflating the tyres of America’s Middle East special envoy’s efforts to get the talks going again. Lieberman suggested leaving all the contentious issues – including the status of a disputed Jerusalem and a solution for Palestinian refugees who had lost homes amid the war – “to a much later stage”. What’s left to discuss? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, however, declined to comment when asked if Lieberman's comments reflected his opinion or government policy, although other senior Netanyahu confidants share similarly sceptical views on peacemaking. Lieberman's approach runs counter to American efforts to reach a peace deal quickly, and Palestinian leaders say they will not agree to an interim peace deal that puts off a settlement indefinitely. This should all work out well.
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