Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman responded on Saturday night to Economy Minister Naftali Bennett’s fiery response to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s linking of peace talks with ISIS.
Speaking to Channel 2 News, Liberman said Bennett’s criticism was harmful and did little more than gaining him a few more votes.
“We’ll go to the facts: When we ran out of ammunition during Operation Protective Edge, it was the United States who provided us with ammunition, who gave money to develop the Iron Dome, who voted with us in the UN Human Rights Council,” said Liberman, adding, “The United States is the only country that prevents a lot of trouble for Israel with its veto power at the Security Council.”
He continued, “There may be differences of opinion among friends, but there is no need to attack. I think that we have no alternative to the United States and it should be understood. All the ranting here is nothing but harmful. Maybe it will bring some voters, but will also do a lot of political damage.”
Kerry blamed Israel for the rise in global jihadism on Thursday, pointing the finger straight at Jerusalem – despite a long and seasoned history of Washington’s own failures in the Middle East.
Kerry insisted that Israel “humiliated” the Palestinian Arabs and that it has led to a “loss of dignity,” leading to a recruitment draw toward ISIS.
In response, Bennett fired back at Kerry, saying, “Even when a British Muslim beheads a British Christian, there will always be those who blame the Jews.”
“We don’t justify terror; we fight terror,” he added. “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict statement encourages ISIS, and is a boost to terrorism worldwide.”
Liberman is not the only minister who criticized Bennett over his remarks. Earlier Saturday evening, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Bennett’s criticism lacks respect for the financial and diplomatic support the U.S. has provided for Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas terrorism.
“Relations between the United States and Israel are based on shared interests and values, and a dispute or other comments should not cast a shadow over that,” Ya’alon stated. “The United States supports Israel in a variety of fields – including, of course, security – and we need to remember that and to recognize and thank its leaders for that.”
“The security systems of the two countries have an intimate relationship, one unprecedented in scope and importance to the security of Israel, and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and I have a close relationship,” he added.
Leave a Reply