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Austria's Defence Minister Norbert Darabos, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party, called Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman “unbearable” and downplayed the Iranian threat, accusing Israel of using that threat – and the Palestinian issue – to divert attention from domestic social issues.
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VIENNA (EJP)---Austrian Defence Minister Norbert Darabos described Israel’s policy regarding Iran and the Palestinians as an attempt "to divert attention from its internal social issues," in an an interview with daily newspaper Die Presse on Saturday.
He also described Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as "unbearable."
The move is likely to further inflame relations between Austria and Israel, which are still tender, following Austria’s vote together with Belgium in favour of a UN-led investigation into West Bank settlement construction.
In the aftermath of the vote at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Israel’s foreign ministry summoned the Austrian ambassador to express "deep disappointment" over a "decision that will only worsen the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians."
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| A spokesman for Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger on Monday reacted to the Defense Minister’s satetement, saying that these “statements in no way express the position of the Foreign Ministry or the federal government.” The spokesman added that the Defense Minister’s position “is not compatible with the level of bilateral ties between Austria and Israel.” |
Darabos refuted Israel’s claims that Iran’s nuclear programme was intended for military purposes and claimed that Israel’s threats were in fact playing in to Iran’s hands:"(An attack on) Iran’s nuclear facilities would spark an uncontrollable fire in the region and would create solidarity and empathy for Iran in the Arab world and the world at large," the Austrian minister said.
He accused Israel of diversionary tactics "to avoid dealing with internal social issues," adding that "the fact that Minister Lieberman is a member of the Israeli government is unbearable."