We will not accept any restrictions on construction in Jewish neighborhoods
in Jerusalem and there will be no compromise on this matter, FM Liberman
said.
FM Liberman meets with German FM Steinmeier in Jerusalem
16 Nov 2014
(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman met today (Sunday 16 November
2014) in Jerusalem with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

At the start of the meeting, FM Liberman stated that he was very
appreciative of FM Steinmeier’s personal contribution to the strengthening
of relations between Israel and Germany. FM Liberman also said that Israel
deeply appreciates Germany's balanced and responsible approach to the
conflict in the region, especially with regard to the relations between
Israel and the Palestinians.

FM Liberman expressed his hope that the meeting of the foreign ministers of
the European Union will result in a similar balanced approach to
Israeli-Palestinian relations. FM Liberman said that there is no place to
create a linkage between the Israel-EU bilateral relationship to the
relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, and added that any attempt
to create such a stipulation is based on a misguided approach that does not
contribute to stability, normalization or enhancement of the relationship
between Israel and the Palestinians.

FM Liberman stated that Israel has exerted much effort in its attempt to
calm the situation in Jerusalem, and that he was pleased that last Friday's
prayers on the Temple Mount passed quietly and in perfect order.

FM Liberman said that it should be obvious to everyone that Israel will
never accept a definition of construction in Jewish neighborhoods in
Jerusalem as "settlement activities," because this is the broad consensus in
Israel, agreed upon by Jewish citizens from the Left, Right and Center
political streams, adding that he was hopeful that the members of the
European Union would take this into account. No one will accept that
construction in neighborhoods like Ramot, Gilo or East Talpiot can be
construed as "settlement construction." This is is a distortion of reality
that we will not accept, FM Liberman stated.

We will not accept any restrictions on construction in Jewish neighborhoods
in Jerusalem and there will be no compromise on this matter, FM Liberman
said. Anyone who thinks that the Israeli government will succumb and limit
construction in Jerusalem is mistaken; we will defend our independence and
sovereignty.