The ambassadors of Britain, France, Italy and Spain were called in a day after Israel’s ambassadors to those countries were summoned to hear protests about building settlements in areas that the Palestinians view as part of a future independent state.
Israeli officials described Mr Lieberman’s step as a counterprotest.
This was the first time that Israel had summoned European ambassadors as a group over such an issue.
The Israeli protest was delivered by the Foreign Ministry’s acting director-general, Nissim Ben Shetrit.
Mr Lieberman said the European position was ‘‘unacceptable and gives rise to the feeling that they are only looking to place blame on Israel.’’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that it was ‘‘time to stop this hypocrisy’’ and ‘‘to inject some balance and fairness into this discussion''. » | Isabel Kershner | New York Times | Saturday, January 18, 2014
