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Netanyahu Aborted Lieberman Plans to Assassinate Hamas Chief

Israeli former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Reuters)
Israeli former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Reuters)
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Netanyahu Aborted Lieberman Plans to Assassinate Hamas Chief

Israeli former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Reuters)
Israeli former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Reuters)

Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman revealed on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly prevented him from executing plans he had prepared to assassinate Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

His statements during an electoral meeting were in response to repeated harsh criticism by Netanyahu in which he said Lieberman “doesn’t match words with deeds.”

Netanyahu revealed that Lieberman had repeatedly addressed the possibility of assassinating Haniyeh, but he never acted on his words when he assumed the defense portfolio.

“I’ve decided to tackle this subject for the first time today and put an end to the series of lies,” Lieberman said during a meeting with a group of Russian-Jewish activists from his party.

“I have submitted an integrated plan several times to the Cabinet to assassinate Haniyeh, and every time Netanyahu volunteered to abort it.”

“I proposed assassinating Haniyeh before 2015 elections and promised the public to carry out the assassination two days after taking office as defense minister,” Lieberman added.

“When I took office in 2017, I submitted a very clear and integrated plan that couldn’t be interpreted differently to assassinate Haniyeh and other officials, but Netanyahu aborted it,” he continued.

Lieberman appeared to be particularly angry with Netanyahu for running an election campaign against him on the Russian street, warning Russian Jews of the premier’s deceit.

He said the PM does not know how to tell the truth and does not care for the people, Russians and Oriental and Ashkenazi Jews. All he cares about is retaining his position in power.

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Türkiye Denies Direct Talks with SDF, Demands Full Disarmament

Türkiye insists on the dissolution of the SDF, the departure of foreign fighters from Syria, and the integration of remaining members into the new army (Reuters)
Türkiye insists on the dissolution of the SDF, the departure of foreign fighters from Syria, and the integration of remaining members into the new army (Reuters)
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Türkiye Denies Direct Talks with SDF, Demands Full Disarmament

Türkiye insists on the dissolution of the SDF, the departure of foreign fighters from Syria, and the integration of remaining members into the new army (Reuters)
Türkiye insists on the dissolution of the SDF, the departure of foreign fighters from Syria, and the integration of remaining members into the new army (Reuters)

Türkiye has denied holding any direct negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), asserting that no dialogue is possible unless the group dissolves itself and fully disarms.

Omer Celik, spokesperson and deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), firmly rejected recent reports and statements suggesting contacts between Turkish authorities and the SDF.

“No official meetings have taken place,” Celik stated Thursday, following a high-level party meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His comments came in response to a recent interview with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, who claimed there had been direct contacts and expressed openness to meeting Erdogan. Without naming Abdi directly, Celik dismissed the notion that Türkiye had engaged with the SDF as though it were an independent entity. “It is unacceptable to frame the situation in that way,” he said.

Celik reiterated that any engagement would only be possible if the SDF disbands, lays down its arms, and ends its affiliation with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. “If they disarm, then a meeting could be possible,” he added.

In recent days, several Western media outlets reported that US-mediated talks had taken place between Türkiye and the SDF. These reports claimed the discussions centered on reducing tensions, dissolving the SDF, and implementing a March agreement with the Syrian government that would see SDF fighters integrated into a new Syrian army and hand over ISIS-linked detainees and camps to Damascus.

While some reports hinted at a potential meeting between Abdi and either Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Fidan denied such plans. He confirmed that Türkiye is working with both Washington and Damascus to implement the SDF’s military integration.

Celik also acknowledged an agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government that would see the SDF hand over territory to state control. He stated that all PKK elements, especially those from the YPG (the SDF’s leading faction), must leave the country.

Referring to a May 12 PKK statement titled “Dissolution of the PKK and Disarmament,” Celik stressed that Erdogan had made it clear that all PKK-affiliated structures, including the SDF, must be dismantled and disarmed.

“This is not about opposing Kurdish rights,” Celik concluded. “President Erdogan told Assad years ago: Give Kurds their rights like any other citizens. But we will never allow a terrorist state on our southern border.”