Lieberman demands reoccupation of Gaza

Israel's former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has claimed that if was the prime minister, he would order soldiers to occupy the Gaza Strip. The remarks were made during an interview with the Israeli Radio. He said that "should Israel fail to respond for shells fired from Gaza, Hamas will own planes and hundreds of missiles that can strike Tel Aviv and Netanya." Lieberman added that Hamas "is not interested in living next to the Jews in Israel”, and added that Tel Aviv needs to “return to the Gaza Strip, and perform a root cleanup." Lieberman is a prominent member of Knesset and chair's the Foreign and Security Committee. The Israeli politician added that his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, would oppose any waiver in relation to talks with the Palestinians, adding that reports about Palestinian President's willingness to hold peace talks are incorrect. Lieberman denied knowledge of US Secretary of Stare John Kerry's plan to resume ?Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which is supposedly based on the framework of suspending the construction of settlements, and the gradual ?release of 130 Palestinian detainees who were arrested before Oslo agreement.? The former foreign minister recently made a provocative trip to the Palestinian town of Silwan, which lies on the edge of East Jerusalem. He was offered complete military and police protection. During his tour, Lieberman visited outposts in Silwan, such as al-Bustan, Wadi ?Hilwa and the Ir-David, with Director of Elad settlement society David Perry. He reviewed the plan to implement several settlement projects in Jerusalem, especially in ?Silwan, south of al-Aqsa Mosque.? Tour guides from Elad informed him about the ?latest excavations under their supervision with the Israeli archaeological department in Silwan. The visit was Lieberman's first to Silwan, and it came a month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had visited the region to launch several settlement projects sponsored by the far-right Elad settlement society.? Israeli sources said that Lieberman carried a message of support from the Knesset right-wing to the ?Jewish settlers in Silwan and pledged financial support, which ?increases Elad's grip on the old town. The same sources said that a delegation of rich Israelis from the United States visited Silwan last week to hold talks with Perry.