Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni (Kadima) delivered a speech dripping with scorn for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday as he prepared to face a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinian Authority (PA), and as the IDF prepared for a possible wave of violence.
Livni accused Netanyahu of falsely claiming that "the world is against us," that there is anti-Semitism and that Israel can't do anything about it.
"It’s true that there is a revolution in Egypt and we do not know what the result will be," she elaborated. "It's true that there is anti-Semitism in the world. So what?"
"Israel's friends no longer understand Israel's policy and they do not know what it wants," she accused. "I am sorry to say it, but they do not believe the Israeli prime minister. They understand that if someone says 'two states' and is not willing to take a single step to make that happen, this arouses suspicion. We are the ones who pay that terrible price."
Livni said she opposes the PA's unilateral bid and will support the prime minister if he renews negotiations with the PA. "It is not too late to stop the bad process we are in," she said. "It requires courage to reach a decision. I am in doubt, but maybe this week, Netanyahu can rise above his problematic coalition and reach the right decision. If not, we will take them when the day comes."
Netanyahu made extended overtures to Livni after he was elected in attempts to persuade her to join his coalition. She refused to do so unless he agreed to let her be prime minister as well, in a rotation agreement.