Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s Foreign Minister, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu fundamentalist party, stated that the United States asked Israel to release 1000 detainees of the Fateh movement, headed by Mahmoud Abbas.He added that he personally opposes such a move and claimed that ‘all Israeli efforts to boost the Palestinian Authority ended in failure’.
Lieberman said he would vote against the issue, and will never conduct any act that would boost president Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli TV Channel 10, reported on Wednesday at night that Abbas rejected an Israeli offer to release 400 detainees of Fateh movement in return for resuming unconditional peace talks.
Lieberman said that the previous government of Ehud Olmert released Palestinian detainees and accepted American conditions to freeze settlements activities for 10 months. This issue, he said, did not boost peace talks.
The Israeli Foreign Minister also stated that Israel considers Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi as a red line, and will never accept to release him.
Israeli sources claimed that Hamas did not demand the release of Barghouthi as he is a powerful figure and could lead to its defeat in any upcoming elections.
