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Last update - 00:00 13/11/2008
Livni: Israel not counting on Obama in peace talks
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Barack Obama 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday Israel did not need any "dramatic" intervention in peace talks with the Palestinians from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama when he takes office in January.

Livni said that while there were expectations from Obama on the Middle East, her message to the new administration was: "You don't need now to do anything dramatic about it. The situation is calm. We have these peace talks."

The foreign minister, who as Kadima Chairwoman could become prime minister after the general election in February, told Jewish leaders in New York that the international community should limit itself to backing the talks according to parameters set out at a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, nearly a year ago.
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The talks have been hobbled by violence and bitter disputes over settlement building and the future of Jerusalem.

Livni said she welcomed the outcome of a meeting she attended last weekend in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with the Quartet - the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States - and Arab and Palestinian leaders.

Livni said she had told them: "We don't ask you to intervene. Please, this is bilateral. We don't want you to try to bridge gaps between us. Don't put new ideas on the table."

"We know what we are doing, we are responsible enough. We need your help just in supporting the process according to the parameters and the provisions we all set between us."

The chances of a peace deal this year appeared to evaporate entirely when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his decision to resign because of a corruption scandal, triggering plans for a Feb. 10 election in Israel.

While Livni was unable to form a coalition government last month, she could still become prime minister after the election. She said Obama's top priority would be to address the financial crisis in the United States.

Addressing a meeting of the UJA-Federation of New York, she said the United States was a friend but that Israel was "not a state that puts its problem on the American table the day after the new administration" takes office.

It is unclear how much emphasis Obama will place on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Livni said the only way for Israel to live as a democratic Jewish state in peace and security was to give up some of its land for a Palestinian state, in return for Palestinians dropping their insistence on the right of return of refugees.

She added that the answer to the refugee issue was not to allow a return to Israel, "not even for one of them."

"I'm willing to make this historical reconciliation as long as I know that the creation of a Palestinian state is the answer to their own national aspiration," she said.

"And if there is a problem of refugees that left in 1948, this is not an Israeli problem any more."

Livni was in New York to attend a high-level UN General Assembly meeting on dialogue between different religions on the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah.

She said King Abdullah had taken a "courageous" step in calling the meeting, which indicated a recognition that the enemy of Arab states was not Israel but extremism.

Also Thursday, Livni met with U.S. President George W. Bush at the sidelines of the conference. She told him that after the elections in the United States it is important that the world knows he has left a living peace process that will continue to advance
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  1.   ISRAEL ALREADY GAVE BACK ENOUGH 19:57  |  Barry S. Roffman 13/11/08
  2.   We just love it. 20:07  |  Baz Mann 13/11/08
  3.   Land for peace, a dead dream 20:15  |  Gili 13/11/08
  4.   Livni begins to catch on 20:22  |  Jim 13/11/08
  5.   Peace Talks 20:35  |  P. J. Casey 13/11/08
  6.   peace for peace 21:01  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 13/11/08
  7.   These are your moderates? 21:05  |  Andreas 13/11/08
  8.   Israel caused the Refugee problem, it is Israel problem 21:27  |  gus 13/11/08
  9.   Just hot air. Nothing has come out of all such "negotiations." 21:33  |  American 13/11/08
  10.   Livni: Israel Not counting on Obama in peace talks 21:49  |  Lois 13/11/08
  11.   Failed policy of giving away land show Livni a defeatist 21:49  |  Yaakov K. 13/11/08
  12.   Livni doesn`t want peace 21:52  |  Bryan 13/11/08
  13.   Feb.10 Time to Oust Axis of Evil: Meretz/Kadima-Labor From Gov`t 22:21  |  Joseph.E 13/11/08
  14.   HAMAS FIRES ROCKETS AND LIVNI CALLS FOR SURRENDER 22:45  |  Steve 13/11/08
  15.   Why Wait For BoBama? 22:48  |  crlman 13/11/08
  16.   Everlasting peace talks 22:50  |  Boycott 13/11/08
  17.   I Reject Islam and Love Israel 23:05  |  Joseph.E Post 1 13/11/08
  18.   I Reject Islam and Love Israel 23:06  |  Joseph.E Post 2 13/11/08
  19.   I Reject Islam and Love Israel 23:07  |  Joseph.E Post 3 13/11/08
  20.   Israel`s population&borders R religious issues Livni&U.S.keep out 23:42  |  sam 13/11/08
  21.   What Livni does not dare say ? 23:48  |  American 13/11/08
  22.   No return of refugee? 00:09  |  Lou Medel 14/11/08
  23.   IN OTHER WORDS 00:52  |  VIPER 14/11/08
  24.   Keeping the Land 01:49  |  eha 14/11/08
  25.   #1 You are correct . 02:01  |  John Allen 14/11/08
  26.   seriously... 02:31  |  guitarninjateck 14/11/08
  27.   Not Counting on OBAMA???????? 04:28  |  Eve 14/11/08
  28.   Livni frightened of the possability of peace if Obama involved 05:13  |  American in NY 14/11/08
  29.   We`re not counting on Israel in peace talks... 16:33  |  John 15/11/08
  30.   Livni and Obama are a threat to Israel`s future 01:20  |  HENRY MANN 16/11/08
  31.   Kingdom of JHWH 05:22  |  Davidinho 21/11/08
  32.   that`s right;livni is counting on her SELF for PIECE talks and 17:56  |  glenna 21/11/08
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