Liberman calls for Abbas's removal

Israel’s foreign minister says the Palestinian Authority president must be removed for peace talks to proceed after the International Criminal Court announced it was opening a probe into alleged Israeli war crimes.

Avigdor Liberman says President Mahmoud Abbas must “pay the price” for initiating the ICC probe. Liberman tells Israel Radio that “we must get rid of Abu Mazen (Abbas)” for diplomacy to prevail. He says the US must stop its financial assistance to the Palestinians.

Friday’s ICC announcement comes after the Palestinians acceded to the court’s treaty and recognized its jurisdiction dating back to before the last Gaza war. The probe could target alleged crimes by both Israel and the Palestinians.