Lieberman: Palestinian MK more dangerous than Hamas, Hizbullah

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman charged on Wednesday that one of several Palestinian members of his country's parliament is "more dangerous than both Hamas and Islamic Jihad combined."

A number of Israeli news agencies and papers quoted the ultranationalist foreign minister and West Bank settler as calling Ahmad At-Tibi (United Arab List), a Palestinian citizen of Israel and member of its Knesset, among Israel's "main problems."

Speaking in the disputed northern border town of Ghajar, Lieberman said that "those who listened to the Fatah convention yesterday understood that our problem is not with Abu Mazen [President Mahmoud Abbas], but rather with Ahmad [At-]Tibi."

At-Tibi's comments at the sixth Fatah conference in Bethlehem the day before were in reference to settlers such as the Israeli foreign minister, whom the MK suggested should "get off Palestinian lands, get out of our souls, get out!"

"The settlements are like tumors in the Palestinian body… there will be no peace with settlements and settlers," At-Tibi added.

But according to Lieberman, Israel's "main problem isn't the Palestinians [in the occupied territories] but Ahmed [At-]Tibi and others like him - they're more dangerous than both Hamas and Islamic Jihad combined."

It was not the foreign minister's first attack on Palestinian Knesset members. In November 2006, Lieberman called for Palestinian lawmakers to be tried for treason. In March 2008, he warned that "a new administration will be established and we will take care of you."

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Knesset Member Ofir Akunis (Likud) requested that Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) dismiss At-Tibi from his position as deputy Knesset speaker due to what Akunis called At-Tibi's anti-Jewish stance on illegal settlements.

Rivlin responded that it was not his job to censor other MKs, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported, but that he agreed with Akunis' allegations.

Even more forceful were right-wing Knesset members like Yisrael Katz (Likud) and West Bank settler Michael Ben Ari (Ichud Leumi), who called on the Israeli government to suspend At-Tibi's salary. According to MK Yuli-Yoel Edelstein (Likud), "At-Tibi is a terrorist wearing a political mask."

Speaking with Israel Radio on Wednesday Katz, who earlier called Fatah's then-draft platform a declaration of war, said, "The testimony of At-Tibi proves we have to impose the Jewish state on At-Tibi and his colleagues - before we impose it on the Fatah movement."