Liberman: Gulf-Qatar crisis opportunity for Israel to combat terror

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is casting the decision by Gulf states to cut ties with Qatar as a positive development for Israel, saying opens up opportunities for Israel to collaborate with these states to combat terrorism.

The countries, including Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, cut ties “not because of Israel, not because of the Jews, not because of Zionism,” but “rather from fears of terrorism.”

This opens opportunities to “in the fight against terrorism,” Liberman says in the Knesset plenum.

Addressing warming ties between Israel and moderate Arab states, Liberman says attempts to link Israel’s reconciliation with these countries with Palestinian statehood “are a mistake.”

“You must not condition the ties between Israel and the moderate states on the Palestinian issue,” he says.

The defense minister also addresses the massive arms deal between the US and Saudi Arabia.

“Our job is not to prevent deals between the US and moderate states,” Liberman says. “Our job is to preserve our qualitative edge.”

“We dealt with the deal before it became known to the broader public,” he says.

“Despite the incredible scope of the deal, we will be able uphold the qualitative edge,” adds Liberman, saying the Americans have been responsive to Israel.

— Marissa Newman