Lieberman takes on PLO's remarks

JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Israeli officials are being urged to submit protests to the United States and the European Union against remarks made by the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's order Thursday came after PLO Ambassador Maen Areikat said the future Palestinian state would be "free of Jews," Ynetnews.com reported.

"It is advisable for the world's nations to take these statements into account when discussing the Palestinian request to establish an independent state," Lieberman said in a statement.

Lieberman stressed Israel would not honor an independent Palestinian declaration of statehood, saying, "I hope common sense will prevail and we reach a point of modus vivendi, which will also allow for negotiations."

Areikat said Wednesday he believes Palestine and Israel must be separate states.

"After the experience of the last 44 years of military occupation and all the conflict and friction, I think it would be in the best interest of the two people to be separated."