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Benjamin Netanyahu is not alone in straight talking on the Israeli political scene. Following his recent speech, published here in full last month, we have seen a report of an interview conducted in Time magazine, with Avidgor Leiberman, Israel's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He made clear his approach to Israeli politics by saying, "I say exactly what I mean, and I mean what I say". He has a knack for saying "decidedly undiplomatic things", which could scuttle President Obama's plans for peace in the Middle East - he calls the Obama Administration's push to curb the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank "a mistake". He also believes that Israel's Arab citizens, who make up nearly 20 per cent of the population, should be "forced to sign oaths of loyalty".

Leiberman has no room for political correctness, and his bluntness has earned him "the devotion of Israel's hawks, and the disdain of liberals, Palestinians and just about every government in the Arab world". Calling him "the most talented politician on the scene today", a professor of political science at the Hebrew University added, "His kind of politics is also dangerous to Israeli democracy and to the prospect of any kind of peace settlements with the Palestinians".

Avidgor Leiberman moved to Israel from the Soviet Republic of Moldavia in 1978. Speaking about his early family life, he said, "In my home we spoke only about Israel. It was a dream that one day we would come here". For a time he was a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party but, having split from Likud in 1999, he formed Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home), "an unapologetically nationalist party". The party's "most explosive position" is the call for all citizens to "pledge allegiance to the Jewish State as a condition of the right to vote".

Whilst he has no objection to talks (without pre-conditions) with the Palestinians and says he "supports an independent Palestinian state", his governing idea is, "Jews on one side. Arabs on the other". The interviewer commented, "Insisting on physical separation as a pre-requisite for a peace deal is a safe way to ensure that one is never struck". The verdict following the interview was that Lieberman's views "are not the way to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East".

On Thursday, 18 June, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, addressed the Conservative Friends of Israel during their annual lunch. His speech covered such subjects as: support for Israel, a two-state solution, getting all to meet their obligations, fighting anti-Semitism and confronting Iran.

With regard to Israel he made plain his convictions and aspirations. "I passionately believe in the right of Israel to exist, to defend itself and to live in peace and security". He emphasised that this belief rested not just on "the tragedies of history, nor the realities of today, not because of my Party's unstinting support for Israel through the decades - but also because its something I feel very deep inside of me". He went on to say, "The belief I have in Israel is indestructible - and you need to know that, if I become Prime Minister, Israel has a friend who would never turn his back on Israel".

With regard to a two-state solution, Mr. Cameron said, "I know peace will not come overnight. Its going to take perseverance, dedication and compromise from all sides". He welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu's speech a few days earlier (on Sunday, 14 June - as reported last month), calling it "an important and welcome statement". He called upon the Palestinians to recognise their obligations - "Prove you are a reliable negotiating partner. Bring order to your own society. And renounce violence completely".

He spoke of some in the West who "see some sort of equivalence between Israel and Hamas". He made his position quite clear, "I do not". He made the following contrasts, "Israel is a democracy. Hamas want to create a theocracy. Israel strives to protect innocent life. Hamas targets innocent life". He was forthright in saying that "we won't judge Hamas just on words. Our test is whether their actions show that they are going to end the terror, recognise Israel, and accept all previous peace agreements".

Moving on to speak about anti-Semitism, he said, "I will stand firm against anti-Semitism in all its forms wherever it occurs. Referring to the success of the BNP (British National Party) in winning seats in both European and local elections, and the fact that "the most disgusting literature can be bought in our bookshops and found in university campuses", he noted that "these are incredibly worrying times for the Jewish community in Britain. Anti-Semitic incidents have increased by ten per cent". This is made worse by the present government letting into this country "with open arms", foreigners who are blatantly anti-Semitic.