MK Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday that Israel should insist that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak pay an official state visit to the Jewish homeland. Israeli leaders have traveled to see Mubarak in Egypt dozens of times, while Mubarak has never once returned the gesture, he said. “He wants to talk to us? He can come here. If he doesn't want to come here, he can go jump in a lake [lit. “go to the winds”--ed.],” Lieberman said.

Lieberman made his comments during a Knesset ceremony honoring slain Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evi, head of the Moledet (Homeland) party. Ze'evi, also known as Gandhi, was assassinated seven years ago by Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorists who targeted him due to his nationalist views.

Ze'evi would have expected Egyptian leaders to visit Israel in addition to receiving Israeli politicians in Egypt, Lieberman said. “Gandhi would never have agreed to Israel's self-deprecation vis-a-vis Egypt,” he insisted.

Lieberman also expressed his own views on Israel's relationship with surrounding Arab countries and with the PA. “We must understand that peace is derived from security, and not the opposite,” he said. “If we are strong and determined and restore the power of deterrence, everyone will respect us. Everyone will want to be at peace with us. If we stutter, apologize, attempt to ingratiate ourselves—everyone will hit us in the face. Everyone will want to test us.”

Shortly after Lieberman's speech, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres rushed to apologize to Mubarak for his remarks. Both Olmert and Peres called Mubarak and apologized personally in the name of the state of Israel.

Olmert called Lieberman's remarks “destructive and unnecessary.” He told Mubarak that he sees him as “a strategic partner and a good friend" and added that Israel is interested in strengthening ties with Egypt.

Peres termed Lieberman's statement “unfitting,” and issued an official statement praising Mubarak. “The state of Israel has great respect for President Mubarak and for his country for their important role in promoting peace in the area,” the statement said.

After hearing of Peres and Olmert's apologies, Lieberman said Wednesday night, “This is exactly the kind of ingratiation that I was talking about.” Before apologizing to Mubarak, “the leadership must first ask the people's forgiveness for Oslo and the Disengagement,” he said.