JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s foreign minister said he publicly opposed an Arab peace initiative because he objects to a Palestinian "right of return" to Israel.
Avigdor Lieberman made the statement Wednesday at a Security Cabinet meeting after calling the plan during an interview the previous day with Army Radio "a dangerous proposal, a recipe for the destruction of Israel."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the Security Cabinet that it is important to seek a comprehensive peace agreement with the Arab world.
"Israel needs to formulate with the United States the details of this initiative, which also includes guarantees for Israel’s security interests, the security components and Jewish character of the state — without the right of return," he said.
Lieberman said in an interview with the Russian daily Moskovskiy Komosolets, his first major interview since taking office, that the Obama administration would only put forward new peace initiatives with Israel’s go-ahead, Ha’aretz reported Tuesday.
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