FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2007 file photo, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, left, and President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas talk after a plenary session on the Middle East during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Palestinian president will invite Israeli politicians to the West Bank to try to make sure peacemaking is on the new government's agenda, a senior official said Thursday Jan. 24, 2013, as a top Israeli hard-liner proposed sidelining the polarizing issue.(AP Photo/Keystone/Alessandro della Valle, File)
January 24, 2013 - 2:29 AM
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top ally is recommending that the next Israeli government sideline the polarizing issue of peacemaking with the Palestinians in favour of domestic issues.
The comments come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins sounding out potential partners for his next government.
Lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Thursday that focusing on domestic issues is the best way to avoid political paralysis.
Lieberman says, "If we want to founder from the outset and embark upon endless internal struggles, then make foreign policy the top priority."
Tuesday's election badly weakened Netanyahu, and he is scrambling to find coalition partners among hawkish, centrist and ultra-Orthodox parties that have made it into parliament. His top partner is likely to be a newcomer centrist party with more moderate views on peacemaking.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013