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Last update - 07:24 22/08/2008
Livni: World pressure on Israel, PA could spark third intifada
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies
Tags: politics, Tzipi Livni 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni - the leading candidate to replace Ehud Olmert as leader of Kadima and as prime minister - on Thursday met with the foreign press in Israel and called for a national unity government that would be able to pursue the creation of Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.

But she also sounded a warning note, saying that a Palestinian uprising could reignite if the international community piled too much pressure on the sides to paper over differences and rush into an agreement on statehood.

Livni, who also serves as deputy premier, said she would try to form such a government if she wins next month's primary election - as polls indicate she is likely to do.
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"I believe that what we called in the past left and right is something that belongs to the past," she told reporters in Jerusalem. "Now most Israelis understand that having two states in the lands comprising historic Palestine is an Israeli interest."

Livni's cautionary tone regarding a renewed Intifada comes just days before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to visit the region.

Livni compared the current situation to the year 2000, when peace talks at Camp David, brokered by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton, collapsed and the second intifada erupted.

"I know that there are some expectations ... to do something before the end of the year," Livni said of Washington's goal of Israel and the Palestinians reaching a statehood agreement before Bush leaves office in January.

"The pressure, the international pressure, this can lead to clashes, this can lead to misunderstandings, this can lead to violence as we had, as we faced, after Camp David 2000 and the circumstances, in a way, are similar," Livni said.

In her remarks, Livni played down Washington's timeline for a deal this year. "What is more important is the content and the nature of the understanding," she said.

Livni said she and her Palestinian counterpart in the negotiations, former prime minister Ahmed Qurei, were going beyond "vague ideas" about the percentage of West Bank land that Israel would yield.

"We need to line the borders on the map," she said.

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  • Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at Israeli plan to expand settlements
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      1.   Past 04:34  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 22/08/08
      2.   Livni,you are dreaming in colour if you think the Palestinians 04:38  |  lakshmi 22/08/08
      3.   Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni 05:16  |  Mark 22/08/08
      4.   It`s somewhat irresponsible to suggest 3rd Intifada when all the 05:44  |  Smadar 22/08/08
      5.   livni 06:00  |  craig 22/08/08
      6.   Livni is dumber than Olmert 06:07  |  Dan 22/08/08
      7.   Is Livni really so clueless? 06:13  |  Natallie Durson 22/08/08
      8.   dont wait for the PALs to start it 07:17  |  vik 22/08/08
      9.   Knesset, public must understand Pal. equal rights to land, Jlm. 07:40  |  Ivar 22/08/08
      10.   Culture of hate 08:36  |  Jean Van Daem 22/08/08
      11.   The US would be well advised to end the ?peace process? and... 08:38  |  Jean Van Daem 22/08/08
      12.   Ivar - and God 08:43  |  Elihu 22/08/08
      13.   Livni world pressure on Israel.PA could sark third intifada 08:49  |  martin list, m.d. 22/08/08
      14.   The people of Israel are tired of Kadima 09:07  |  Michael 22/08/08
      15.   a national unity government is a must 09:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/08/08
      16.   wake up rabbi... 09:26  |  ravi 22/08/08
      17.   A waste of time, while the alternative is already available! 09:46  |  Nadav 22/08/08
      18.   Elihu, 12, forgets biblical warnings of an arch deceiver 10:02  |  Ivar 22/08/08
      19.   Livni - almost totally bashed by commentators 10:11  |  S 22/08/08
      20.   A 3rd Intifada = The Last Naqba ---) Peace 10:13  |  Yishai Kohen 22/08/08
      21.   #17, Nadav 10:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/08/08
      22.   #1 Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 10:21  |  Jim 22/08/08
      23.   It`s so convenient to make utterences like this 10:21  |  Harvey 22/08/08
      24.   answer the Refugee problem, Ivar 10:28  |  David 22/08/08
      25.   Nadav #17 your "available" alternative - Egypt and Jordan. 10:30  |  S 22/08/08
      26.   #2 lakshmi 10:32  |  Jim 22/08/08
      27.   #4 Samdar 10:47  |  Jim 22/08/08
      28.   Hello, Cipora. It appears that the concept of... 10:48  |  Nadav 22/08/08
      29.   Unfair Inaccurate Self- serving 10:53  |  Shalom Freedman 22/08/08
      30.   #10 Jean Van Daem 11:14  |  Jim 22/08/08
      31.   #12 Elihu 11:37  |  Jim 22/08/08
      32.   #17 Nagav 11:45  |  Jim 22/08/08
      33.   #18 Ivar 11:49  |  Jim 22/08/08
      34.   INTIFADA 11:58  |  michael 22/08/08
      35.   Smadar writes: "Also, why even suggest a unity government with.. 12:10  |  Nadav 22/08/08
      36.   Smadar, the idea of a 3rd Intifada has been around for some time 12:45  |  ivo 22/08/08
      37.   To Rabbi Yaakov 12:48  |  ari 22/08/08
      38.   and after intifada III, there will be number 4, then 5. etc! 12:51  |  Ben Uziel 22/08/08
      39.   #13 martin list m.d. 12:51  |  Yonatan, Ph.D. 22/08/08
      40.   #14 Michael - "The people of Israel are tired of Kadima" 12:53  |  Yonatan 22/08/08
      41.   #15 Cipora - A unity government now is no solution 13:00  |  Yonatan 22/08/08
      42.   #16 ravi 13:05  |  Yonatan 22/08/08
      43.   #18 Ivar 13:16  |  Yonatan 22/08/08
      44.   Ivar #18: it sounds like replacement theology, Ivar - 13:45  |  ivo 22/08/08
      45.   durson`s contractions #7 13:54  |  odles 22/08/08
      46.   Israel`s Lust from its history 14:00  |  Amit 22/08/08
      47.   Livni to pursue a national consensus on her infantility 14:05  |  Sal 22/08/08
      48.   Nadav #17 your "available" alternative - Egypt and Jordan. 14:07  |  S 22/08/08
      49.   Fatah option is Condi-Livni fiction that doesn`t exist in reality 14:07  |  G Marcus 22/08/08
      50.   Livni`s assessment 14:29  |  Brod 22/08/08
      51.   Totally wrong 14:29  |  Baz Mann 22/08/08
      52.   That stuff will fry your brains 14:33  |  Gideon Reader 22/08/08
      53.   #15 Cippora: "national unity with the exclusion of the religious" 14:44  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/08/08
      54.   Is unity with Netnayahu a true unity? 14:44  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/08/08
      55.   # 18 Ivar - "New" Testament is for believers 15:43  |  17 22/08/08
      56.   #2 Lakshmi is wrong 16:20  |  Afikoman 22/08/08
      57.   # 2 - lakshmi - Back off!...... 17:17  |  Dagma 22/08/08
      58.   Haaretz running for Livni 17:54  |  Ralph 22/08/08
      59.   Gideon Reader - "a Seinfeld Party about nothing 18:04  |  17 22/08/08
      60.   Tzipi Livni: Classic Postmodern Fool 18:53  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/08/08
      61.   Don`t Need Unity. Need a Hard Right Turn. And It is Inevitable. 18:57  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/08/08
      62.   National unity and paralysis government 19:02  |  Tosefta 22/08/08
      63.   The Jordanian Option 19:10  |  Tosefta 22/08/08
      64.   The Jordanian Option 19:10  |  Tosefta 22/08/08
      65.   #27 Yonatan 19:20  |  Space 22/08/08
      66.   # 30 Amit......how childish 19:48  |  Joy 22/08/08
      67.   #20 Yishai Kohen......I agree with your statement 19:57  |  Lynn 22/08/08
      68.   Does that mean that the Second Intifada is over? 20:23  |  Scharker Yid 22/08/08
      69.   The borders are there 20:42  |  Jack Olson 22/08/08
      70.   To Amit 20:55  |  Bob 22/08/08
      71.   #26 Nadav RE:Jerusalem, its administration vs.sovereignty 21:01  |  Smadar 22/08/08