Lieberman scolds diplomats over 'placating the world'

[ensho]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1139446.html


Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman opted to conclude last week's conference of Israeli ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry by chastising the 150 or so diplomats on Thursday for what he described as their tendency to overly placate their host nations.

Lieberman, who opened the conference last Sunday with a tirade against Turkey, the Palestinians and European countries, concluded it by reprimanding Israeli diplomats. "I have seen that some ambassadors identify themselves with the other side to such an extent that they are all the time trying to justify and explain ," Lieberman told the shocked audience.

-snip-

"We will not seek reasons for confrontation and friction, but we will not turn the other cheek," Lieberman said. "There will be a response to everything. This is the policy I want the ambassadors . The era of groveling is over. We must be on good terms and respect the host nations, but we will not tolerate insults and challenges."

Lieberman addressed the forum of ambassadors for about 20 minutes, but no opportunity to ask questions or comment was given to the diplomats. A senior source at the Foreign Ministry said that some of the ambassadors who had expressed frustration with Lieberman in private earlier this week, and had said that they intended to confront Lieberman and "tell him precisely what they think," did not get a chance.
-snip-
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well, he certainly has an attitude problem

[bemildred]

1. One-trick pony. nt

[brooklynite]

2. A suggestion...

Headlines like this should perhaps be annotated by indicating which Lieberman is discussed...

[Blue Owl]

3. You must placate JOE LIEBERMAN, you idiots

n/t

[LeftishBrit]

6. This is Avigdor, not Joe (n.t.)

[sui generis]

4. World vs. Israel

how exactly did that picture come about? Oooohhh, by placating Israel ONLY.

Diplomat, my half gentile ass.

[Jim Sagle]

5. Truth to power.

:thumbsup:

[LeftishBrit]

7. Err, that is what diplomats are FOR!

Avigdor Lieberman obviously equates diplomacy with 'grovelling'.

Extreme xenophobic-isolationists don't make good Foreign Secretaries.

Pure proportional representation is as bad for democracy as no attempt at proportional representation!

[azurnoir]

8. The talkbacks were interesting as it seems Lieberman has

a bit of support with this, wonder when he'll get around to calling Bibi an appeaser

[Violet_Crumble]

9. Lieberman's appeal is to fellow warmongering bigots and fascists...

Most Israeli diplomats don't fall into that category, so it's no surprise that Lieberman wouldn't give any of them a chance to ask questions...