Avigdor Liberman
Avigdor LibermanMiriam Alster, Flash 90

Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman ordered the security establishment to cease all communication with Nikolay Maldenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as reported by Arutz 2.

According to the report, Liberman’s decision came after Maldenov delivered harsh criticism about the way in which the Defense Minister is fighting terror.

Several weeks ago, Maldenov claimed that all communities in Judea and Samaria are illegal according to international law, notwithstanding the way in which Israel has classified them.

Maldenov also presented the UN with all of Israel’s construction plans and claimed that Israel is acting against international law. His words caused outrage in the administration and this boycott is an initial expression of that anger.

Member of Knesset Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) said in response that, “Liberman’s decision not to cooperate with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process only damages Israel’s interests.”

Livni added that it’s not the first time that Minister Liberman has said he will not cooperate with representatives from the UN and called the act, “a stupid mistake that harms Israel.”

She added that, “We can be angry at the UN and disagree with its policies about matters that are important to us – but we must always act rationally and do what is in our best interest.”