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Cut ties with Palestinians, says Israeli foreign minister

Published:Monday | August 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Israeli and Palestinians take part in a rally to voice support for United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state, in Jerusalem, on July 15. The United States and Israel say a Mideast peace deal and Palestinian independence should come about only through talks. Both Israel and the Palestinians have launched international lobbying campaigns to drum up support for their respective positions. The banners read in Hebrew and Arabic, 'Together we march for liberation'. - AP

JERUSALEM (AP):

Israel's foreign minister warned yesterday that the Palestinian Authority plans "unprecedented bloodshed" next month after an expected symbolic United Nations endorsement of Palestinian independence.

Accenting his warning, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for Israel to sever ties with the West Bank-based government.

The allegation runs counter to other Israeli assessments and stands in stark contrast to public and private statements by the Palestinians.

"They say they don't want violence, but the Palestinian Authority is planning unprecedented bloodshed," his spokesman Tzachi Moshe quoted Lieberman as saying.

"They are going to send waves of people to storm roadblocks," Lieberman said, according to his spokesman. "Israel should cut all ties with them."

Lieberman did not provide evidence for his claim that Palestinians were getting ready for violent demonstrations. Moshe said Lieberman drew his conclusions from intelligence reports and public statements by Palestinian officials.

He said the foreign minister would ask the government to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority when the Cabinet convenes again next Sunday.

With peace talks stalled since 2008, the Palestinians have said they will instead ask the UN to recognise their state in September. Israel and the United States strongly oppose the move, saying Palestinian statehood should be achieved through negotiations.

Palestinian spokesman Ghassan Khatib denied the Palestinians were preparing for violence. "These Israeli predictions of violence aren't true. Israel is trying to fuel a fake picture of what will happen in September."

"In September, we will request the international community's help - legally and according to law - from the UN to help us end the illegal occupation. What is illegal here is the occupation, not the attempts to end it," Khatib said.