Palestinians slam appointing Lieberman in Netanyahu's cabinet

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) slammed on Thursday the possibility of hawkish Israeli lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman joining in the current cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The PNA Foreign Ministry said including Lieberman, head of the radical Israeli right-wing Party "Israel is our home" shows an "absence of a real peace partner in Israel."

"Including Lieberman represents PM (Benjamin) Netanyahu's response to the French, regional and international efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process between the Palestinians and Israel," said a PNA statement.

It went on saying that appointing Lieberman is a "powerful Israeli message to the world that Israel prefers extremism and devotion of occupation and settlement instead of peace."

"The decision reflects the extreme and violent racial nature of Netanyahu's government," the statement added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli media reported an imminent agreement between Netanyahu and Lieberman on including him and his party to the current government and offering him the portfolio of defense.

"Joining Lieberman, the Israeli man who is well-known for his radical political stances and positions, in Netanyahu's government would turn the current Israeli government the most extreme and radical one in Israel's history," the statement said. Endit