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Itongadol.- Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is a "true friend of Israel" and slammed Economy Minister and Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett for his recent criticism of the top American diplomat.
Speaking at a conference in the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel, Lieberman said that Kerry is leading the peace process "in the right way."
"We are developing with him principals that future talks will be based on," he said.
In his speech, Lieberman also touched on the recent attack on the Jewish Reform movement, saying that it is an "integral" part of the Jewish people. "I believe in live and let live," he said.
Lieberman also said that Israel needs to bring another 3.5 million Jews, "to get to a critical mass of 10 million Jews in Israel," but did not elaborate further.
\’Willing to reach an agreement\’
"John Kerry is not a member of the settler council and he has a right to think differently than the screaming Naftali Bennett," Lieberman said, and cautioned that it is "unwise to turn a friend into a foe."
He added: "I hear a competition about who attacks John Kerry more. I want to clarify – Kerry is Israel\’s true friend."
"I see Naftali Bennett running to the microphones but I don\’t see him running to the opposition," said the foreign minister.
"When you talk about stability and good management you need borders," he said, "which is why I am willing to reach an agreement but not at any price; no deals [with holes] like Swiss cheese."
He also said that the willingness for cooperation on behalf of the moderate Arab world is much greater than in the past: "These opportunities must be seized."
Concerning the issue of boycotts against Israel, Lieberman said: "I don\’t underestimate the boycotts, but we should not get hysterical. We only encourage the BDS organizations." He added that "boycotts against us started in 1921 in Jaffa."
Lieberman began his speech with the issue of changing the system of governance in Israel, referring to recent effort to promote a law that would make it harder for small parties to get into the Knesset. He criticized Meretz leader Zahava Gal-On\’s opposition to the law, saying that "Gal-On and Meretz need to decide whether they represent the Arabs in Israel or constitute a Zionist party."
"We have to effect dramatic changes," Lieberman added. "A leadership that wants to bring about changes, and has the capability to implement them. Now, with this colorful make-up [of the coalition] real changes are not possible." The Israeli government, Lieberman said, "is not running anything; it is only caving to different pressures."