Tel-Chai Nation

The foreign minister's getting behind the supporters of the Ulpana buildings:

Foreign Minister and Head of Yisrael Beytenu Avigdor Lieberman threw his considerable political weight into the debate over Givat HaUlpana Monday, saying he would back the Regulation Bill that would legalize the neighborhood.

Lieberman spoke at the annual CPAs' conference in Eilat and was quoted by Maariv/NRG.

"If there is no choice, I will have to support the Regulation Bill," he said. "I ask myself if there was an obligation to decide to evacuate the five buildings. The human consideration should also enter the picture when we discuss the future of the residents."

"One must understand that these people are the salt of the earth," said Lieberman of the residents facing expulsion. "Residents who received mortgages from the state and the state connected them to the electricity and water grids. They all work and pay taxes."

The exaggerated focus on the legal problems facing the neighborhood is "grotesque," the minister said. "It shows the extent to which we sometimes live within ourselves without looking at the world. With all that is going on around us we deal with the question of 'sawing off' or not sawing off five buildings. We should know how to look at things in proportion."

On top of all that, there's one more thing that should be noted about cases like this: if there's anyone Netanyahu shouldn't be going miles out of his way to please, it's foreign politicians with hostile viewpoints to Israel. On the other hand, where he could make an impact is if he were to let European citizens concerned about Islamofascism know that they deserve better.

Labels: Israel