Roundup: Palestinians slam appointing Lieberman as Israeli defense minister

The Palestinians have strongly condemned the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman, the chairman of the far right-wing Israel Batino (Israel is our home) Party, as defense minister in the Israeli cabinet.

Nabil Abu Rdineh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said in an official press statement that appointing Lieberman "would have negative influence on the fate of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians."

"Changing the policy of the occupation is more important than changing persons in the government," he said.

After his official declaration of including Lieberman into his government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is committed to push forward the peace process.

Abu Rdineh reacted to Netanyahu's remarks by saying "deeds are more important than words.

He warned that "the entire region is facing an earthquake and Israel should conceive the real lessons in order to build up peace," adding "without the fair solution to the Palestinian cause, there will be no peace or stability in the region of the Middle East."

Meanwhile, Ahmed Majdalani, an official in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Xinhua that appointing Lieberman "who is well-known for his radical positions towards the Palestinians and the Arabs as minister of defense clearly shows that there is an absence of a real peace partner in Israel."

"Netanyahu and his government send a clear message to the Palestinians and to the Arabs that Israel prefers radicalism and fanaticism instead of peace, stability and security in the region," said Majdalani, adding that Netanyahus coalition with Lieberman boosts the racist face of the state of Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah Party also slammed including Lieberman into Netanyahu's government.

Fatah said in a press statement that "Lieberman has radical and criminal visions towards the Palestinians and appointing him in this position would mount Israel's radicalism.

Also, Islamic Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad on Wednesday slammed Israel for appointing Avigdor Lieberman in the current Israeli government.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that Lieberman's joining to the Israeli government composition "is an indication for the increasing status of the Israeli occupation's radicalism and fanaticism."

"All the leaders of the (Israeli) occupation are criminals and murderers," said Abu Zuhri, adding "selecting Lieberman indicates that this government seeks more fanaticism and radicalism."

Meanwhile, Khaled al-Batsh, a senior Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, said in a press statement that "assigning Lieberman as a minister of defense clearly shows the brutal and hostile policy of the occupation."

"Amid all of this, and in order to confront and resist such a radical government, the Palestinians should end their internal division and prepare for resisting this occupation," he said.

Abu Zuhri and al-Batsh called on the Arabs to stop running for normalization with Israel and called on the international community "to bear full responsibilities for the consequences of appointing Lieberman as minister of defense." Endit