Israeli FM: Peace should ensure Israel's security, stability of Palestinian economy

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated Friday that any peace agreement should ensure Israel's security and a stable Palestinian economy. In press statements following his meeting with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry over a US-brokered framework for a peace agreement, Lieberman said that an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians must be based on solid foundations of security for Israel and a stable economy for the Palestinians. Lieberman expressed great appreciations to the US efforts to broker a solution to the conflict and promoting peace in the region. He underlined that the continued dialogue with the Palestinians is of great importance to Israel. The far-rightist Israeli Foreign Minister, however, expressed skepticism about the outcome of any peace agreement with Palestinians. Even if all problems and disputes are resolved, there are still issues regarding the day after a peace agreement is signed, he said. Lieberman went on to say that after a deal was reached, Arab countries in the region may wish to transfer the Palestinian refugees currently living in their lands to the territories under Palestinian control. "The significance of this is that in addition to the Palestinians currently living in the territories and those in West Bank, a further three million refugees will be added, creating a severe humanitarian problem that will provoke more frustration, violence and a deterioration of security," Lieberman said. Earlier Kerry held the second meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after five hours of talks on Thursday following his arrival for his 10th trip as secretary of state. The top US diplomat was later heading to Ramallah for discussions with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the occupied West Bank. Kerry seeks to broker a final peace deal or at least set general framework for it before the end of April 2014.