Israeli FM questions PA political efforts

JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday the Palestinian Authority acted questionably regarding its efforts involving Israel and Hamas.

Speaking before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Lieberman accused Palestinian officials of using Operation Cast Lead to urge Israel to combat Hamas while later complaining about Israel to the international community, Haaretz reported.

"During Operation Cast Lead, the Palestinian Authority pressured us to crush Hamas," Lieberman said. "Then, a month later, they submitted a complaint against us to the International Criminal Court in The Hague."

Operation Cast Lead was Israel's 2008 military campaign in the Gaza strip that began with a series of air strikes.

Lieberman also spoke out against the Palestinian Authority's plan to obtain a unilateral declaration of statehood from the international community.

"Any one-sided Palestinian move will be met with steps of our own," the foreign minister said.

"Whoever holds a unilateral policy with complete disregard for past accords," Lieberman added, "will get the same from us."

Haaretz said Lieberman questioned whether the United States would oppose such a request from the Palestinian Authority if the proposal went before the United Nations Security Council.