Leader of the Israel Our Home party Avigdor Lieberman told Kommersant about the prospects for a Middle East settlement

This week, the head of the Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, plans to present the composition of the new Israeli government. For the first time, the right-wing party “Our Home Israel” of AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN, representing the interests of Russian-speaking Israelis, is vying for several key positions in it. Mr. Lieberman spoke about his plans in an interview with Interfax agency special correspondents RENAT ABDULLIN and ALEXANDER KORZUN - especially for Kommersant.

— What positions in the government is NDI applying for?

— We lay claim to five ministries: foreign affairs, security (under which the police are located), justice, industry and trade, as well as communications, or two other ministries of the economic bloc. We understand that our requirements cannot be met 100%. However, this will not be a stumbling block for joining the coalition, since the situation in the country requires the completion of the formation of the cabinet.

— Does NDI’s success in the elections mean a strengthening of the role of the Russian-speaking community in Israel?

— From the very beginning, NDI positioned itself not as another “Russian” party or a narrow group lobby. We proposed a program of national renewal to Israeli society: government reform, the establishment of presidential rule, and the establishment of a constitutional court. On the other hand, our program is based on the conviction that Russian repatriates are the driving force of Israeli society. There are more Russian-speaking deputies in our parliamentary faction than in all the others combined—eight. In the previous government, I served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Planning. Now we will get ministries to which the “Russians” have never been allowed before.

— They call you a “superhawk.” Will you demand a radical change of course in resolving the Middle East problem?

— I am neither a “hawk” nor a “dove”, but a pragmatist. The formula “Territories in exchange for peace”, according to which negotiations on a settlement in the Middle East have been going on for almost two decades, is fundamentally wrong. Israel gives up territory and receives terror in return. In 2000, Israel withdrew troops from southern Lebanon and received Hezbollah and Katyusha rockets in the north of the country. In 2005, we left Gaza and got Hamas, Kassam and Grad in the south. Our position is clear and precise: only peace in exchange for peace. For us, peace is security. There can be no question of continuing negotiations until terror is completely crushed.

— How do you feel about the contacts of the Russian side with representatives of the political wing of Hamas?

“I reject the very term “political wing of Hamas.” Hamas is a terrorist organization, and there is no difference between those who carry out explosions in our cities, shell our territory, and those who plan these actions, and this is what the so-called political wing does. The very fact that Hamas representatives are received in Moscow at the Foreign Ministry is a legitimation of terror. Hamas is included in the list of terrorist organizations. It is not recognized in the USA and Europe, but in the Russian Federation ministers meet with them. To all the demands of the Quartet - to recognize the State of Israel, to recognize the agreements between the Palestinians and Israel, to renounce terror - Hamas said no. And that’s why I think that the presence of Hamas leaders in Moscow is a big mistake.

— What do you expect from Russia as one of the mediators in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement?

“We are waiting for her to make a new assessment of the Middle East situation.” The Palestinian problem cannot be viewed in isolation from everything that is happening in our region. You need to understand that any strengthening of Hamas, any legitimation of it primarily affects moderate Palestinians.

— Russia plans to hold an international conference on the Middle East. Will Israel participate in this conference?

- Undoubtedly. We hope that the agenda will be agreed upon in advance and we will try to bring positions closer together. We consider the Russian Federation a very important factor. In the Middle East especially.

— Russia is completing the contract for the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. How will this affect Israel's attitude towards Russia?

— Russia’s cooperation with Iran in nuclear energy will not bring anything good to either Russia or Israel. Iran is not a problem for Israel, but for the whole world. Once Iran gains access to nuclear weapons, a frantic arms race will begin in the Middle East. And then the situation will get out of control.

- And how to avoid this?

— It is necessary to achieve a freeze of the Iranian nuclear program by tightening sanctions. We know of two examples where sanctions turned out to be very effective. Libya, under the pressure of sanctions, disarmed and allowed international observers. The second example is North Korea. It's even easier with Iran. Because there is a fairly large layer of businessmen there, which has never existed in North Korea. The entire economy of Iran is concentrated in the hands of 50-60 families. Now, if you hit them with sanctions... They can restore order in Iran better and faster, but they must feel that they will lose everything they have. This is what you need to focus on.

"Russia's dialogue with Hamas is unacceptable"