MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the right-wing opposition party, explained that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert�s and President Shimon Peres� need to apologize to Egypt for his remarks may be compared to a �battered wife�, who returns despite the repeated abuse.
Lieberman was referring to his remarks made in Knesset last week, telling Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to �go to hell�, adding that it has been three decades since Israel and Egypt has signed a peace treaty yet Mubarak refuses to step foot in Israel. Israel on the other hand continues her �subservient� attitude, expressing a willingness to continue visiting Egypt to accommodate Mubarak while he will not make an official visit until Israel correct the injustices �against the Palestinian people�.
In an appearance on Israel Channel 2�s Meet the Press, Lieberman pointed out that during a major recent military exercise in Egypt; Israel is still portrayed as the enemy. He also cited the continued weapons smuggling from Egypt into Hamas-controlled Gaza. He questions the so-called Egyptian efforts towards maintaining mutual diplomatic relations with Israel.
Lieberman was critical over the fact that political leaders in Israel ran to apologize to the Egyptian leader to avoid a political row, adding that in reality, his remarks did not demand such a high level response.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
