Israel should have diplomatic ties with moderate Arab states to settle Palestinian conflict - foreign minister
MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The problem in Palestinian-Israeli relations can be settled exclusively in a regional format through a package deal with all moderate Arab states, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.
"The conflict should be settled precisely as a conflict between the Jews and the Arabs. Its settlement must be regional and all-embracing," Lieberman said in an interview with Interfax.
The Israelis have had conflicts with Arabs in general rather than particularly with the Palestinians since the early 20th century, he said.
"This conflict has three principal components: the moderate Arab states, the Israeli Arabs, and the Palestinians. It must be settled within the framework of a package deal," Lieberman said.
"First of all, it is necessary [to establish] full diplomatic relations with the modern Arab states," he said.