Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told party members at a ceremony opening a new Kadima office in Netanya that a final settlement with the Palestinian Authority is simply not in the cards, at least for now.
“A permanent agreement with the Palestinians is impossible in the current situation,” she said bluntly, but softened the statement by adding that “all is not lost.” Livni added that the meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over the past three days had resulted in an agreement to “begin diplomatic dialogue that will protect our interests.”
“There are only winners in such a situation," Livni opined. "We identified Israel’s and the Palestinians’ diplomatic horizon. There will be a return to the first phase of the Road Map, which demands that the Palestinians detach themselves from terror completely.”
Rice was in Israel for talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah in which she tried to revive the negotiations which began last December between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
Despite a number of concessions by Israel which included the transfer to Abu Mazen’s coffers of $100 million in tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA and removal of dozens of security checkpoints throughout Judea and Samaria, the PA has not reciprocated.
Foreign Minister Livni slammed Abbas’s failure to keep his promise to secure the freedom of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before his faction joined the ruling Hamas terrorist organization in a unity government.
“Abbas is disappointing us, especially with regard to the issue of Gilad Shalit’s release. He had a chance to condition the establishment of the unity government on the kidnapped soldier’s release but chose not to,” she said.
Abbas had also vowed not to join such a government unless Hamas agreed to reverse its refusal to accept the three conditions set by the international community in order to resume funding to the PA – recognition of the State of Israel, renunciation of terrorism and compliance with existing agreements signed by previous PA administrations.
Livni said Olmert agreed to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s urging to meet bi-weekly with Abu Mazen and clarified that those meetings aim to continue dialogue “on the conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Rice acknowledged at a news conference Tuesday morning that the PA unity government deal worked out in Mecca last month had “complicated” the situation vis-a-vis talks with Israel.
“We regrouped,” she told reporters “but it raised the question of what we can do together.” The answer, she added, is for both parties to continue their talks with the hope of reaching the stage of negotiations in the future.
“My work won’t replace bilateral talks,” Rice said. “I am looking for a common approach I can use with both parties.” The American Secretary of State added that trilateral talks would also play a part in that process.
There is hard work ahead, Rice said, expressing concern about the lack of movement in talks. She urged the PA to end its terrorist attacks against Israel and called upon the Jewish State to resolve the issue of access between Gaza and other PA territories.
Confidence between the two parties has to be built, she acknowledged, but added that the benefits would be two-fold: a state for the PA and security for Israel.
Abbas meanwhile told reporters Tuesday that it was in Israel’s best interest to accept the 2002 Arab peace plan that was recently pulled out of mothballs in light of the “stalemate” in the Israel-PA talks. Abbas said the proposal was the “best chance for peace in the near future.”
The 2002 Arab plan calls for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, thereby giving up most of Judea and Samaria, all of the Golan Heights and half of Jerusalem, including the eastern neighborhoods and the Old City, home to Judaism’s holiest site, the Temple Mount (which includes the Western Wall).
The plan also calls on Israel to allow millions of Arab descendants of those who abandoned their homes during the 1948 War of Independence to move into to the Jewish State with full immigrant benefits. Their ancestors fled Israel at the behest of the attacking Arab nations who assured them they would soon be able to return after the destruction of the State.
“A permanent agreement with the Palestinians is impossible in the current situation,” she said bluntly, but softened the statement by adding that “all is not lost.” Livni added that the meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over the past three days had resulted in an agreement to “begin diplomatic dialogue that will protect our interests.”
“There are only winners in such a situation," Livni opined. "We identified Israel’s and the Palestinians’ diplomatic horizon. There will be a return to the first phase of the Road Map, which demands that the Palestinians detach themselves from terror completely.”
Rice was in Israel for talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah in which she tried to revive the negotiations which began last December between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
Despite a number of concessions by Israel which included the transfer to Abu Mazen’s coffers of $100 million in tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA and removal of dozens of security checkpoints throughout Judea and Samaria, the PA has not reciprocated.
Foreign Minister Livni slammed Abbas’s failure to keep his promise to secure the freedom of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before his faction joined the ruling Hamas terrorist organization in a unity government.
“Abbas is disappointing us, especially with regard to the issue of Gilad Shalit’s release. He had a chance to condition the establishment of the unity government on the kidnapped soldier’s release but chose not to,” she said.
Abbas had also vowed not to join such a government unless Hamas agreed to reverse its refusal to accept the three conditions set by the international community in order to resume funding to the PA – recognition of the State of Israel, renunciation of terrorism and compliance with existing agreements signed by previous PA administrations.
Livni said Olmert agreed to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s urging to meet bi-weekly with Abu Mazen and clarified that those meetings aim to continue dialogue “on the conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Rice acknowledged at a news conference Tuesday morning that the PA unity government deal worked out in Mecca last month had “complicated” the situation vis-a-vis talks with Israel.
“We regrouped,” she told reporters “but it raised the question of what we can do together.” The answer, she added, is for both parties to continue their talks with the hope of reaching the stage of negotiations in the future.
“My work won’t replace bilateral talks,” Rice said. “I am looking for a common approach I can use with both parties.” The American Secretary of State added that trilateral talks would also play a part in that process.
There is hard work ahead, Rice said, expressing concern about the lack of movement in talks. She urged the PA to end its terrorist attacks against Israel and called upon the Jewish State to resolve the issue of access between Gaza and other PA territories.
Confidence between the two parties has to be built, she acknowledged, but added that the benefits would be two-fold: a state for the PA and security for Israel.
Abbas meanwhile told reporters Tuesday that it was in Israel’s best interest to accept the 2002 Arab peace plan that was recently pulled out of mothballs in light of the “stalemate” in the Israel-PA talks. Abbas said the proposal was the “best chance for peace in the near future.”
The 2002 Arab plan calls for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, thereby giving up most of Judea and Samaria, all of the Golan Heights and half of Jerusalem, including the eastern neighborhoods and the Old City, home to Judaism’s holiest site, the Temple Mount (which includes the Western Wall).
The plan also calls on Israel to allow millions of Arab descendants of those who abandoned their homes during the 1948 War of Independence to move into to the Jewish State with full immigrant benefits. Their ancestors fled Israel at the behest of the attacking Arab nations who assured them they would soon be able to return after the destruction of the State.
