Lieberman wants new approach

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel's foreign minister told the US Mideast envoy yesterday that wide-ranging concessions offered to Palestinians in the past resulted in wars and his country needs to find a new approach, the latest sign that the hard-line government and Washington are diverging on how to reach a settlement.

President Barack Obama's envoy George Mitchell, speaking at the meeting with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, reiterated Washington's solid support for creating an independent Palestinian state. That idea has been the guiding principle of US-backed peace efforts in recent years.

"The minister reviewed the peace process since the [1993] Oslo agreement to the present day and pointed out the historic approach has so far not brought any result or solution," a statement from Lieberman's office said. "The minister also said that the new government will have to come up with new ideas and a new approach."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al Gait said Cairo would not deal with Lieberman, Israel's Channel 2 television reported on Wednesday.

"We will work with any proposal by the Israeli government but not through the Israeli foreign minister," Abu Al Gait said in an interview with Russia Today television, excerpts of which were aired on Channel 2.

Lieberman stirred controversy last year when he said Hosni Mubarak could "go to hell" if the Egyptian president did not want to visit Israel. He once suggested Egypt's Aswan Dam might be bombed.

"Of course he will not visit Cairo as long as his positions remain unchanged," Abu Al Gait said.