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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing reporters in Egypt on Sunday. (AP)
Last update - 16:04 09/11/2008
Livni: We see the need for a Palestine, as long as it's not a terror state
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Tags: Quartet, Palestinian 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Sunday that progress had been achieved in peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, and that Israel recognizes the need to establish a Palestinian state, on condition that an independent Palestine does not sponsor terrorism.

Speaking after a meeting Sunday with the Quartet of Mideast peace negotiators in Egypt, Livni described the negotiations with the Palestinians as serious and intensive.

"We recongnize the need to establish a Palestinian state, provided that it will not be a terror state," she said.
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Representing Israel at the meeting at the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheik, Livni updated representatives of the U.S., Russia, United Nations and the European Union on Sunday about progress in talks with the Palestinians.

The meeting came approximately one year after the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis Mideast peace conference.

Sitting side by side at a round table, Livni and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas briefed the Quartet and said they had reached a number of agreements, including "the need for continuous, uninterrupted, direct bilateral negotiations."

They asked the international community to support the parties' efforts in the framework of the Annapolis process, the Quartet said in a statement read by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"The Quartet emphasised the importance of continuity of the peace process," Ban said.

Mediators agreed that the spring of 2009 could be an appropriate time for an international peace meeting in Moscow.

The White House conceded this week that Bush was unlikely to achieve his goal of securing a peace deal to end the decades-old conflict before he leaves office in January. Bush had hoped an agreement would improve a legacy burdened by the war in Iraq.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, wrapping up what is likely to be her last visit to the region before stepping down, joined Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana at the meeting.

"What we heard today from the parties, which is the most important element of this, is that they believe in the Annapolis process," Rice told reporters.

While the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are expected to continue next year, political uncertainty in Israel and Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election leave the Bush administration with limited influence in its waning days.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "The single most important thing is that the new administration in the United States grips this issue from day one, and it can do so knowing that there is a foundation on which we can build."

An aide to Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa urged the Obama administration to put the Israeli-Palestinian issue at the top of its priorities once it comes into office.

"This will affect the general atmosphere and other conflicts in the region," said Hesham Youssef, Moussa's chief of staff. "Are these talks by themselves a goal? No. They are a means to achieve peace and this has not happened."

Prior to the meeting, Livni said that her goal for the meeting was to keep pressure off Israel as elections approach.

Israel is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on February 10, and polls show that Livni, the chief Israeli negotiator, is neck and neck with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes negotiations with the Palestinians at this point.

Livni told Army Radio before heading to Egypt that she believes that if "mediators see Israel is serious about an agreement with the Palestinians they will not pressure Israel about deadlines or the specifics of the negotiations right now."

Livni will not be presenting any dramatic reports of progress, she told Army Radio. "In the meantime, the updates will include the principles of the process, not its content, and we will try to retain the support of the international community for the process," she said.

In regard to the issue of Jerusalem, parts of which the Palestinians are demanding as the capital of a future Palestinian state, Livni stressed that the topic was never on the negotiating table. "We committed to discussing all the core issues, but it is important to differentiate between a commitment and actual discussion," she went on to say.

The Sharm meeting will be attended by representatives of the Quartet: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as other European Union representatives.

During the meeting, Livni is expected to brief the representatives, alongside chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, on the progress of the talks since their relaunch last November in Annapolis, Maryland.
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  1.   Not Here In OUR Land 11:49  |  Yishai Kohen 09/11/08
  2.   "We recognize the need to establish a Palestinian state" 12:04  |  Axel 09/11/08
  3.   #1 yishai 12:30  |  Ilya 09/11/08
  4.   i see the need for a jewish state 12:40  |  really 09/11/08
  5.   #3 Ilya 12:42  |  Yishai Kohen 09/11/08
  6.   so livni admits she was not ever serious about peace 12:52  |  so surprised!!!! 09/11/08
  7.   mideast for dummies 13:24  |  howard 09/11/08
  8.   Thuis is funny coming from the would be leader of 13:29  |  Labhras 09/11/08
  9.   Israel`s foundations are built on Terrorism 13:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/11/08
  10.   #1 Yishai Kohen for the 100th time it is not your land 13:41  |  Labhras 09/11/08
  11.   well i want to comment livni 13:48  |  for finally 09/11/08
  12.   Livni champion of preemptive surrender 13:53  |  Jonathan S 09/11/08
  13.   Naivete` is glaring 14:23  |  Brod 09/11/08
  14.   # 9: England foundations on piracy, but not piracy state 14:25  |  Israeli citizen 09/11/08
  15.   The Jordanian/Egyptian Option based on 242 is the only realistic 14:32  |  Yuval 09/11/08
  16.   # 10 Labhras, perhaps you return to Normandy? 14:32  |  Israeli citizen 09/11/08
  17.   since it will be a terror state WHY EVEN TALK ABOUT IT? 14:38  |  Avi 09/11/08
  18.   reply 14:51  |  YOUSEF 09/11/08
  19.   Yoosef Mecca 18 15:31  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  20.   to labarse #10, By the 1000 time, its all Jewish Land 15:39  |  JP 09/11/08
  21.   There´s only one solution, 2 states, Israel and Jordan 15:42  |  JP 09/11/08
  22.   Yoosef Mecca 18 15:43  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  23.   #9 Chriss Lithwaite 15:59  |  Daniela 09/11/08
  24.   I agree, the Jordanian option is the way to bring the Arab 16:01  |  Rami 09/11/08
  25.   IIya 3 16:15  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  26.   We see the need for pigs to fly as long as they have wings 16:17  |  Realist 09/11/08
  27.   #18 Yoosef 16:24  |  Daniela 09/11/08
  28.   Hamas would take over in 24 hours 16:28  |  Steve 09/11/08
  29.   #26 Realist 16:33  |  Daniela 09/11/08
  30.   Abbas look like a fool!!! 16:36  |  Moise 09/11/08
  31.   Labhas Ireland 16:41  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  32.   And she believes what she`s saying?She`s Israeli?She`s lived here 16:51  |  David 09/11/08
  33.   # 15 yuval 16:54  |  Axel 09/11/08
  34.   need for a Palestine 16:57  |  Ralph 09/11/08
  35.   The Jordanian Option comes up often these days. What is 17:05  |  Ruth 09/11/08
  36.   Livni and Abba 17:24  |  Dudka 09/11/08
  37.   Jews Must go home 17:35  |  Faris Zaidan 09/11/08
  38.   Pamela #31 17:37  |  Brod 09/11/08
  39.   Yishai: "Not Here in OUR Land..." 17:43  |  Esther 09/11/08
  40.   Agreement on process+flower arrangements.None on content. 17:46  |  Sam 09/11/08
  41.   #10 Labhras pls answer me! 17:54  |  Daniela 09/11/08
  42.   Hello, Ruth. The Jordanian Option is probably the single most 17:58  |  Amiram 09/11/08
  43.   Pamela you are no better than Ben ladden!! 17:59  |  Moise 09/11/08
  44.   The books of recan give clues to history, but not history itself. 18:02  |  S.Awaad 09/11/08
  45.   Faris #37 18:05  |  Brod 09/11/08
  46.   Pity no Arab leader sees need for Jewish state! 18:09  |  Kenny 09/11/08
  47.   headline answers itself 18:42  |  Arie 09/11/08
  48.   faris zaidan: answer a few questions 19:01  |  Arie 09/11/08
  49.   LIVNI ,THE DEFEATIST, AND KADIMA LEAD ISRAEL TO NATIONAL SUICIDE 19:11  |  Yossi 09/11/08
  50.   Esther- he speaks the truth 19:16  |  Esther 09/11/08
  51.   The Jordanian/Egyptian Option of course isn`t mentioned in 242, 20:01  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 09/11/08
  52.   # 48 the Arabs did not do the Holocaust 20:48  |  Faris Zaidan 09/11/08
  53.   N0 21 - Two states 21:14  |  Palestinian Brit 09/11/08
  54.   Enlightment 21:39  |  Baz Mann 09/11/08
  55.   #41 Daniela your answer part one 22:04  |  Labhras 09/11/08
  56.   #31 Pamela you cite anti semitism then you 22:11  |  Labhras 09/11/08
  57.   A Palestinian State but nor a Terrorist State..... 22:40  |  Dagma 09/11/08
  58.   What a Ridiculous Statement from Livni..... 23:03  |  The Threadmill 09/11/08
  59.   And what do Arabs need or don´t need? Ask yourself once... 23:08  |  Lebanese arab 09/11/08
  60.   A "Palestinian" State in the PLO`s own words: 23:35  |  Yaakov K. 09/11/08
  61.   Livni - What Kind of State Do You Think It Will Be ? 23:54  |  Tod Zuckerman 09/11/08
  62.   Muslims and Jews 23:56  |  Fido 09/11/08
  63.   Livni true and pragmatic soul of Israel`s original idealism 00:22  |  Daniel 10/11/08
  64.   Advice 00:22  |  Moshe Benzaquen 10/11/08
  65.   #14 Israeli Citizen 01:01  |  Chris Linthwaite 10/11/08
  66.   Two sides of same coin 01:44  |  Ilya 10/11/08
  67.   Or, In the common vernacular ,,, 02:07  |  Jim 10/11/08
  68.   When the dust is settled and Olmert gone.. 02:29  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/08
  69.   It ain`t happening ! 03:02  |  Jim 10/11/08
  70.   So which shell is the pea under? 03:26  |  Jim 10/11/08
  71.   69# Ji, Blaming Israel is an inflated currency 04:09  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/08
  72.   Livni & the suicide-paket with Abbas. 04:48  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/08
  73.   Livni & the suicide-paket with Abbas. 04:48  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/08
  74.   How touching! 06:24  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/08
  75.   Since the death of Arafat 06:29  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/08
  76.   What arrogance, Livni 18:45  |  steve 10/11/08
  77.   too bad,so sad,your not going to get anything but a terror state 07:20  |  glenna 11/11/08
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