"The various peace settlement issues will be discussed and determined at the negotiations table and nowhere else," the statement said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was also among the criticizers of Lieberman's appearance at the UN.

A statement issued by the Defense Ministry Tuesday night clarified that "Lieberman's remarks do not reflect the Israeli government's position, and certainly not that of the Labor party, which believes that it is essential to continue with the (direct) talks and reach a breakthrough in the negotiations in order to attain a peace settlement with the Palestinians and not play into the hands of Israel's enemies."

Legislators from the Kadima party, Netanyahu's main opposition, were even harsher in their critic of Lieberman, saying he is an obstacle to the recently-launched peace efforts.

"Netanyahu must fire Lieberman," said MK (member of the Israeli parliament) Meir Sheetrit, "if he'd fire him, that would solve half of the problems with the Palestinians... when the prime minister and foreign minister are divided over a matter handled by the government, Israel looks ridiculous in the eyes of the world."

In his speech at the UN, Lieberman attempted to soften his remarks, stressing that he is not proposing a plan for "population transfer," a phrase that in the past provoked the wreath of Arab Israelis.
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