"A supporter of the Arabs and Al-Jazeera, who did tremendous damage to Israel's image around the world in the past few days." This is how Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union) sharply attacked his government colleague Justice Minister Tommy Lapid (Shinui) this morning.
Lieberman was referring to Lapid's statement of a few days ago - repeatedly broadcast widely around the world - that an old woman photographed outside the ruins of her home in southern Gaza during Israel's anti-terrorism offensive reminded him of what had happened to his grandmother - who was persecuted by the Nazis in the Holocaust. "Why didn't he mention the two Israeli soldiers who were killed while they were trying to help another old Arab woman get a drink of water?" Lieberman said.
Lapid, for his part, criticized Lieberman yesterday for the latter's plan to "trade" populations, saying that Lieberman was an "anti-Communist with Stalinist methods." Lieberman said today that he does not wish to respond to Lapid's charges, because "the only thing that interests him is how he can get headlines. He's not a serious person; I'm much more serious, and therefore I don't have to respond to his charges."
Lieberman did explain, however, that he was not referring to "transfer," but rather to an exchange of populations of the type that has occurred in the past in central Europe and elsewhere. "I'm not talking about people who are loyal to the State of Israel," he explained, "but rather to those who call Independence Day the 'Catastrophe,' and those who cheer on the murderer of Jews, Marwan Barghouti."
Regarding the current political developments, Lieberman said that if Sharon asks him and Elon to resign from the government, they will do so at once: "I believe that we have been loyal partners, and we enjoy the work, but if he tells us that we're not wanted, we'll go."
Lieberman was referring to Lapid's statement of a few days ago - repeatedly broadcast widely around the world - that an old woman photographed outside the ruins of her home in southern Gaza during Israel's anti-terrorism offensive reminded him of what had happened to his grandmother - who was persecuted by the Nazis in the Holocaust. "Why didn't he mention the two Israeli soldiers who were killed while they were trying to help another old Arab woman get a drink of water?" Lieberman said.
Lapid, for his part, criticized Lieberman yesterday for the latter's plan to "trade" populations, saying that Lieberman was an "anti-Communist with Stalinist methods." Lieberman said today that he does not wish to respond to Lapid's charges, because "the only thing that interests him is how he can get headlines. He's not a serious person; I'm much more serious, and therefore I don't have to respond to his charges."
Lieberman did explain, however, that he was not referring to "transfer," but rather to an exchange of populations of the type that has occurred in the past in central Europe and elsewhere. "I'm not talking about people who are loyal to the State of Israel," he explained, "but rather to those who call Independence Day the 'Catastrophe,' and those who cheer on the murderer of Jews, Marwan Barghouti."
Regarding the current political developments, Lieberman said that if Sharon asks him and Elon to resign from the government, they will do so at once: "I believe that we have been loyal partners, and we enjoy the work, but if he tells us that we're not wanted, we'll go."