Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Jerusalem should accept the Quartet's proposal and begin negotiations with the Palestinians immediately without any preconditions. The foreign minister said he hoped the Palestinians understood it was in their interest to postpone the statehood bid and focus on talks with Israel. Mahmoud Abbas fled immediately after his speech so we could not negotiate, Lieberman said. He accused the Palestinians of making up excuses not to negotiate all the time. Lieberman warned any one sided move would lead to an Israeli response, but did not elaborate.
