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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Livni: Give up parts of 'Land of Israel'
2009-02-16
Tzipi Livni, who hopes to be appointed Israel's prime minister-designate, said Monday Israel must give up considerable territory in exchange for peace with the Palestinians, drawing a clear distinction with her rival, Benjamin Netanyahu.

She told a convention of American Jewish leaders, "we need to give up parts of the Land of Israel," using a term that refers to biblical borders that include today's Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, repeating her well-known view that pulling out of Palestinian areas would be for the good of Israel, to maintain it as a Jewish state.

Livni told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Organizations that Israel must take the initiative and come forward with its own peace plan to head off international programs. "Any plan put on the table will not be in our interest," she said.

Livni's centrist Kadima Party won one more seat than the hawkish Likud, led by Netanyahu. He opposes large-scale territorial concessions in peace talks with the Palestinians. He believes negotiations should concentrate instead on building up the Palestinian economy.
They're both wrong. One starts by changing the Palestinian souls. Until they renounce violence and commit to peaceful co-existence there is nothing else to talk about.
Netanyahu and Livni, the current foreign minister, both claimed victory in last week's election. Each hopes to be picked by President Shimon Peres to form the next government. Netanyahu appears to have the edge, because a majority of members in the new parliament favor his views.

In his address before the gathering, Netanyahu ruled out unilateral pullbacks from territory, criticizing Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, charging that it allowed the Islamic militant Hamas to take over there.
Correct. Lots of blame to go around, a lot to Iran and Hamas, but it must be clear that a similar withdrawal from all or part of the West Bank would lead to the same result. Hamas is the only Paleo faction that is organized. The PLO is a toothless, mangy beast that is so corrupt that it will never again have any popular support.
He said he, too, does not want to govern Palestinians, but Israel must maintain control of all borders, airspace and electronic traffic, indicating that his offer to the Palestinians would be considerably less than a sovereign state. "Regardless how the solution is achieved, the Palestinians should run their lives," he said. "They should govern themselves, but they shouldn't have certain powers that would threaten the state of Israel."

Official results of Israel's election are scheduled to be published Wednesday, and then Peres will begin formal consultations with the 12 parties in the new parliament. He is expected to choose a premier-designate within a few days, starting a period of up to six weeks for coalition negotiations.

In an interview broadcast Monday evening on Channel 2 TV, Livni invited Netanyahu to serve in a government she would lead. "I am appealing here to Benjamin Netanyahu to join forces with me in a unity government with a policy that represents the center of the political map," she said.

Netanyahu, who assumes he will be the next prime minister, has made a similar call to Livni, who rejected it.
Posted by:tipper

#8  "One starts by changing the Palestinian souls"

Can't change what they don't got....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-02-16 22:47  

#7  How exactly do you discuss peace with Hamas? Doesn't it always come back to this?

Mr. US State Dept: Mr. Jew, meet Mr. Hamas. Mr. Hamas, met Mr. Jew.

Mr. Hamas: I hate you and deny your right to exist you filthy hebrew pig.

Mr. Jew: I will give you land and money for peace.

Mr. Hamas: I hate you and deny your right to exist.

Mr. US State Dept: O-key, well, wow, look at the time! I believe we had enough progress for today. Same time tomorrow guys?

Mr. Jew: Sure.

Mr. Hamas: I hate you and deny your right to exist.
Posted by: Boss Cravilet8390   2009-02-16 22:40  

#6  They're both wrong. One starts by changing the Palestinian souls. Until they renounce violence and commit to peaceful co-existence there is nothing else to talk about.

Truly.
Posted by: trailing wife   2009-02-16 20:35  

#5  Shieldwolf - good point, and I was overly generalizing, for which I acknowledge I was wrong
Posted by: Frank G   2009-02-16 19:58  

#4  Did she say this before the election?
Posted by: DoDo   2009-02-16 19:32  

#3  Actually, as long as the Israeli Arabs are Muslim, it seems to be a good deal. Israel has no major issues with its Arab Druze or Christians, so they would be smart to keep them.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2009-02-16 19:24  

#2  the Israeli Arabs seem to hate the Juice, but will go to their "ancestral brethren" kicking and screaming. Disloyal spiteful fifth column assholes
Posted by: Frank G   2009-02-16 18:57  

#1  What is unspoken by the western MSM is trading land includes substantial numbers of Israeli Arabs who will go with the land (to a Paleo state).
Posted by: phil_b   2009-02-16 18:02  

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