Skip to main content

Liberman positions himself as Mr. Security

By denouncing Prime Minister Netanyahu for not retaliating against the rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman positioned himself as a responsible political leader who is assertive about security.
Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (C) leaves after holding a news conference at parliament in Jerusalem July 7, 2014. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3XFO1
Read in 

While the BBC was reporting on July 4 that a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas would take effect in a few hours, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and the members of his Yisrael Beitenu Party were touring the southern, shelled town of Sderot. His visit, which received extensive media coverage, ended at a local coffee shop. Sitting there in a plain plastic chair, surrounded by curious local residents, he fired off a litany of complaints directed right at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's soft underbelly.

“The approach of 'quiet will be met with quiet' is very seriously mistaken, and I can say on my behalf and on behalf of the members of Yisrael Beitenu that we completely reject such an approach,” said Liberman in an obvious effort to paint Netanyahu as a weak leader who is afraid of a confrontation with Hamas. “It is unacceptable that after three of our children were kidnapped and murdered and after two consecutive weeks of rockets falling, Israel's approach would be that quiet will be met with quiet. … We in Yisrael Beitenu oppose to the cease-fire. There are no arrangements to be made with Hamas.” His stern remarks were more reminiscent of an attack from the opposition than the comments of the country’s foreign minister during a military escalation. These remarks more or less coincided with comments made by Minister Yair Shamir during an interview with Al-Monitor.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.