The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is unaffected by various irresponsible and belligerent propositions” the premier’s office said following accusations by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that the former is “agreeing to terms set by Hezbollah”.
Israeli media outlets reported that Likud officials issued a statement saying: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handles security-related incidents in conjunction with the defence minister and the IDF chief of staff, with responsibility and judicious planning, and is unaffected by various irresponsible and belligerent propositions.”
This came after Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, criticised Netanyahu and accused him of “agreeing to terms set by Hezbollah”.
The war of words between the two Israeli politicians comes amid the exchange of messages between Israel and Hezbollah through the mediation of the United Nations, which ended a round of confrontations between the two sides. Hezbollah attacked Israel in the Lebanese Shebaa Farms after the latter’s aggression on Quneitra, Syria.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Lieberman said on his Facebook page on Sunday: “Containing the event and the lack of an Israeli response means that Israel is agreeing to terms set by Hezbollah. It’s a serious blow to Israel’s deterrence capabilities.”
“A proportional response shows the terrorist leaders that they have immunity, that their rule isn’t going to be toppled, that their ammunition won’t be targeted, and that they will continue to be allowed to recruit and train new terrorists. Those who want to contain this situation agree to let the terrorist organisations get stronger at the expense of Israeli citizens’ safety,” he added.
Lieberman also addressed the situation in Gaza and the latest Israeli aggression on the Strip: “Anyone that holds up Gaza and ‘Operation Protective Edge’ as an example of deterrence is actually showing the exact opposite of deterrence, and how terror organisations should be dealt with.”
He was also quoted by Haaretz as saying on his Facebook page, “Deterrence achieved against Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War is beginning to crack, because of what was seen during Protective Edge. If we do not immediately respond with force, the terrorist organisations will understand that Israel cannot effectively overcome terror. They too know that words and declarations cannot defeat terrorism, that only harsh and steadfast actions can destroy the foundations of terror.”
Lieberman’s statements come at a time when his popularity is retreating against the backdrop of a major corruption case in which leaders of his party are suspected. Moreover, an opinion poll published by the Israeli TV’s Channel 10 has revealed that Yisrael Beitinu will hardly achieve the decisive percentage in Israel’s upcoming parliamentary election.