Livni: Obama's comments a wake-up call for Israel
Israel opposition
member Livni responds to US president's warning on Netanyahu-policy as
might lead Israel into deep isolation, saying, "You can love the US
president or not, but the relationship with the US is important to us
and part of our deterrence-related capabilities."-
A week prior to Israeli elections, the comments made by US President Barack Obama open Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni's political platform presentation.
Livni spoke Tuesday of an agreement with the Palestinians and regional policies that will supposedly remove Israel from the deep isolation of which Obama warned. His words are "a wake-up call for all Israelis," she said.
According to Livni, "You can love the US president or not, but the relationship with the US is important to us and part of our deterrence-related capabilities."
She referred to comments made by Obama and quoted by senior journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. "Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are," said Obama who is of the opinion that Netanyahu "is moving his country down a path toward near-total isolation," as stated in the report.
Following Israel's announcement on expanding construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, Obama didn't even bother getting angry and told a few people that he has learned to expect this kind of behavior from Netanyahu.
"I have become inured to Israel's self-defeating policies," Obama stressed – in a stance much harsher than the official US government declarations.
Livni declared that "the day after elections, the first coordination must be made with the US." She also requested "an honest conversation to clean the slate of all past ills and residues – on the Iranian and Palestinian issues respectively."
Regarding her political agenda, the Hatnua chairwoman promised that "prior to negotiations we will receive US backing for security arrangements on all future agreements. The US will reply and confirm the commitments we received in the previous government from President Bush, which say that the future border will be in the settlement blocs and refugees will not be returned to Israel."
With this support, Livni vowed, "we will move forward and conclude with Europe that they will back an Israeli-initiated negotiation. I am telling you from experience – they will retract their decision not to upgrade their relationship with Israel. This is no less important today in the face of the economic issues. Europe is currently one step away from boycotts and launching their own plans."
So what exactly does Livni want to discuss with the Palestinians? "We will begin direct negotiations, without the international community's involvement. A declaration will be made on the conclusion of claims.
The agreements include a demilitarized Palestinian state without '67 borders, in coordination with the settlement blocs and from there we will advance with the necessary caution in order to safeguard Israel's interests."
She detailed three phases:
"Full coordination with the United States. A declaration on the
end of the conflict and two national states. Full recognition of the
State of Israel.
An agreement on security-related conditions. A demilitarized
Palestinian state without '67 borders, in coordination with the
settlement blocs. This will allow for the enlistment of Europe, Turkey
and moderate Arab countries alongside Israel.
Incremental implementation only after the conditions have been actualized – and the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Regarding the Gaza-ruled Hamas, Livni said that "the moment we begin negotiations we will revert back to a situation in which the Hamas is illegitimate.
"The status of Gaza will be determined only in accordance with the met security conditions." She spoke of regional participation in the negotiations; especially that of Turkey and said, "this is an opportunity to return our relationship to one of normalcy."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4332847,00.html
A week prior to Israeli elections, the comments made by US President Barack Obama open Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni's political platform presentation.
Livni spoke Tuesday of an agreement with the Palestinians and regional policies that will supposedly remove Israel from the deep isolation of which Obama warned. His words are "a wake-up call for all Israelis," she said.
According to Livni, "You can love the US president or not, but the relationship with the US is important to us and part of our deterrence-related capabilities."
She referred to comments made by Obama and quoted by senior journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. "Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are," said Obama who is of the opinion that Netanyahu "is moving his country down a path toward near-total isolation," as stated in the report.
Following Israel's announcement on expanding construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, Obama didn't even bother getting angry and told a few people that he has learned to expect this kind of behavior from Netanyahu.
"I have become inured to Israel's self-defeating policies," Obama stressed – in a stance much harsher than the official US government declarations.
Livni declared that "the day after elections, the first coordination must be made with the US." She also requested "an honest conversation to clean the slate of all past ills and residues – on the Iranian and Palestinian issues respectively."
Regarding her political agenda, the Hatnua chairwoman promised that "prior to negotiations we will receive US backing for security arrangements on all future agreements. The US will reply and confirm the commitments we received in the previous government from President Bush, which say that the future border will be in the settlement blocs and refugees will not be returned to Israel."
With this support, Livni vowed, "we will move forward and conclude with Europe that they will back an Israeli-initiated negotiation. I am telling you from experience – they will retract their decision not to upgrade their relationship with Israel. This is no less important today in the face of the economic issues. Europe is currently one step away from boycotts and launching their own plans."
So what exactly does Livni want to discuss with the Palestinians? "We will begin direct negotiations, without the international community's involvement. A declaration will be made on the conclusion of claims.
The agreements include a demilitarized Palestinian state without '67 borders, in coordination with the settlement blocs and from there we will advance with the necessary caution in order to safeguard Israel's interests."
She detailed three phases:
Regarding the Gaza-ruled Hamas, Livni said that "the moment we begin negotiations we will revert back to a situation in which the Hamas is illegitimate.
"The status of Gaza will be determined only in accordance with the met security conditions." She spoke of regional participation in the negotiations; especially that of Turkey and said, "this is an opportunity to return our relationship to one of normalcy."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4332847,00.html
No comments:
Post a Comment