VIENNA // Austria's defence minister has called Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, "unbearable" because of his insistence on hawkish policies regarding the Middle East peace process and Iran.

Sunday newspaper Die Presse quoted Norbert Darabos as saying that Israel's government is using "external enemies" to divert attention from domestic social problems.

The centre-left politician is also quoted as saying that Mr Lieberman "is unbearable as a member of the Israeli government."

Mr Lieberman's office declined to comment on Darabos' remarks.

Mr Darabos told the paper that Israel's recent government shake-up that led to the inclusion of the centrist Kadima party is a hopeful sign "which could reduce the radicalisation" of the country's policies.

Israel considers Iran, a country it suspects of developing a nuclear weapons, an existential threat.