Lieberman: Talks Have No Chance of Success

During a meeting with party members, Lieberman said that a peace agreement with the Palestinians is unlikely to happen next year "or even next generation".

Lieberman, Speaking at a conference of his ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, said that an end of the conflict and Palestinian recognition of "Israel" as a Jewish state was unattainable, even with significant concessions and territorial compromise.

He added that the only solution is a long-term agreement on certain issues without signing a permanent peace deal with the Palestinians and without withdrawing from the occupied territories.
Lieberman's comments came as "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas are preparing to meet again on September 14 for the second round of direct talks in Cairo, Egypt.

The last round of direct talks between the Palestinian Authority and "Israel" broke off in December 2008 when "Israel" launched a deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians.