Lieberman claimed Grass’s poem “is an expression of the cynicism of some of the West’s intellectuals,” Ynet reported.
The Israeli foreign minister made the remarks during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Sunday.
Lieberman also said he expected “the European leaders” to “condemn” the poem.
In a poem titled “What Must Be Said,” published in Germany’s Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on April 4, Grass strongly criticized the Tel Aviv regime.
“Why do I say only now… that the nuclear power Israel endangers an already fragile world peace? Because that must be said which may already be too late to say tomorrow,” Grass wrote.
“I will be silent no longer, because I am weary of the West’s hypocrisy,” he added.
The poem provoked the ire of the Israeli regime. The Israeli embassy in Berlin issued a statement on April 4, slamming the German poet. The Tel Aviv regime also declared Grass “persona non grata.”
Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres also met with the Italian premier in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Sunday. During the meeting, Peres claimed Tel Aviv and Rome “share a common ground on the Iranian issue.”
During the meeting, Italian Prime Minister Monti claimed that Israel is in the hearts of the Italians.
Israel is the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, and it has never allowed inspections of its nuclear facilities nor has it joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) based on its policy of nuclear ambiguity.
According to a survey conducted in 2011 by the Berlin-based Friedrich Ebert Foundation, more than 50 percent of the European people believe Israel is the most serious threat to global security.
HSN/HJL
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