Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 30, 2008 Kislev 3, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (Archives)
Last update - 15:10 19/11/2008
Livni tells GA: Israel's raison d'etre is its Jewish identity
By Raphael Ahren, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Tzipi Livni 

Advertisement
Livni told the crowd of Jews from around the world that Israel's survival was dependent first and foremost on Israel remaining a Jewish state, saying "a Jewish state is a matter of values, it's is not a matter of religion, it is more a matter of nationality. And a Jewish state is not a monopoly of rabbis, it's what each and everyone feels inside, it's about the nature of the state of Israel.

"Its about the Jewish tradition, it's about Jewish history. - But we need to keep the nature, the character of the state of Israel as a Jewish state because this is - excuse me for using French - the raison d'etre of the state of Israel," she added."

Netanyahu: Peace talks as weak as a stool with one leg

Meanwhile, Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday reiterated his recently declared stance that Israel needs to work on creating an economic peace alongside the current political negotiations.

Netanyahu told delegates to the GA that instead of talking about contentious issues such as the right of return or the status of Jerusalem, the first step to a lasting peace needs to be the fostering of the Palestinians economic situation.

"Right now, the peace talks are based only one thing, only on peace talks," he said during the closing plenary in Jerusalem.

"It's like a stool with one leg, and a weak leg at that... It makes no sense at this point to talk about the most "contractible issue," he continued. "It's Jerusalem or bust, or right of return or bust. That has led to failure and is likely to lead to failure again."

Instead, Netanyahu used a considerable part of his 40-minute speech to delineate his own plan for the future of the peace process, which he said will "try to get agreements on areas that are today agreeable and we could reach understandings."

"The second thing that we must do is weave an economic peace alongside a political process," Netanyahu said. "That means that we have to strengthen the moderate parts of the Palestinian economy by handing rapid growth in those area, rapid economic growth that gives a stake for peace for the ordinary Palestinians.

Because right now, in the contest between Hamas and the moderate elements, Hamas wins out because there is nothing that peace gives to the ordinary Palestinians. So in addition to political negotiations to promote a political settlement, start developing an economic peace process that gives rapid economic growth, the production of jobs, thousands of jobs, very rapidly the development of infrastructure, the ability to move economically areas without the impediment of Israeli security. We have to make a separation between the requirements without having the conflict between Israel's security needs and the needs of Palestinian economic growth."

"I think there is a way to do it. I have been working on a plan for quite some time, actually for the last two years," Netanyahu said, adding that he has discussed his plan with former British Prime Minister and current Mideast Quartet representative Tony Blair and with the American president-elect, Barack Obama.

"Economic development does not solves problems, it mitigates them and makes them more accessible for solutions," Netanyahu continued. "It does something else: It creates a stronger partner on the other side that could turn to its people and bring them closer to its peace. Because they have gained something, they have something to lose. I think this is a definite change that I intend to introduce into the peace negotiations. Right now, if you look at the division of labor, maybe 99 of our efforts are going to into political negotiations, and less than one percent are going to economic development. I propose we change the proportions, not reverse it, but change the proportion, because economic peace will support and bolster the achievement of political settlements down the line."

Full coverage of the 2008 GA conference
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
A real mensch
Chabad leaders say the slain rabbi's only concern was helping Jews away from home.
An immodest proposal
Likud MK suggests using Palestinian prisoners as human shields against Qassams.
  1.   What do Arab Israelis feel? 14:24  |  Boycott 19/11/08
  2.   Israel can remain a Jewish state but not a democratic state 14:30  |  Natallie Durson 19/11/08
  3.   to Boycott 15:06  |  Freddy 19/11/08
  4.   She is saying Israel must remain a racist state 15:10  |  Ismail 19/11/08
  5.   If you like it or not Israel is not a Jewish state 15:27  |  Edith 19/11/08
  6.   Israel is 80% Jewish+Israel defines its immigration policies 15:29  |  Sam 19/11/08
  7.   Livni: we are the only people in the world that mattter 15:46  |  jewish = zionist 19/11/08
  8.   Israel is the nation-state of a people, of the Jewish people, as 15:49  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 19/11/08
  9.   GA Report Headline 17:04  |  Hillel Green 19/11/08
  10.   Freddy 3 21:46  |  potobac 19/11/08
  11.   #4, ISmail, Jordan Palestine LAW say no Jewish citizens 21:53  |  David 19/11/08
  12.   Ismael- read your mail 22:58  |  a voice 19/11/08
  13.   Israel should be a state for all its people or cease to exist. 00:02  |  Dutch 20/11/08
  14.   Israel`s raison d`etre USED TO BE its Jewish identity 04:32  |  MIKE 20/11/08
  15.   A Hebrew Nation, Not a Jewish State 23:59  |  Binyamin 20/11/08
  16.   For Jehudah Ben-Israel 00:07  |  Binyamin 21/11/08
  17.   Question for Bibi: Who Pays? 00:19  |  Binyamin 21/11/08
  18.   Oy gevalt! Look at this farbisiner punim! 07:08  |  MIKE 25/11/08
  19.   Natallie Durson - demo`cy isn`t perfection 23:34  |  Dean 26/11/08
  20.   freddy 3 18:24  |  potobac 30/11/08
 Read & React
'Mumbai terrorist says mission specifically targeted Israelis'
Responses: 30
Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks?
Responses: 5
Israeli experts: Slow op meant 'no chance' for Chabad house captives in Mumbai
Responses: 74
Zvi Bar'el: When in doubt - blame al-Qaida
Responses: 2
In depth / How Israel managed to hinder Iran's nuclear plans
Responses: 9


More Headlines
18:54 Two Israelis in Mumbai remain unaccounted for
18:37 Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks?
16:27 U.S. rabbi recounts Mumbai Chabad House hostage ordeal
19:03 Cabinet approves releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners in gesture to Abbas
14:07 Qassam strikes residential area in central Sderot
17:57 Iran proposes building joint nuclear plants with Arab neighbors
16:55 IDF soldiers get cash reward for refusing to evict settlers
17:48 Rabin-assassin declares hunger strike to protest prison conditions
18:59 Hamas blocks haj pilgrims granted visas by PA from leaving Gaza
05:08 IN-DEPTH / How Israel managed to hinder Iran nuclear plans
16:33 Israeli experts: Slow operation meant 'no chance' for hostages at Mumbai Chabad house
05:50 Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing?
18:46 India security chief resigns after Mumbai terror attacks
13:00 Rightists to march in Israel's largest Arab city Dec. 15th
00:32 ANALYSIS / Are the Mumbai attacks Obama's first test?
10:39 Has the AIDS cocktail worked too well in Israel?
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Inbal Thanksgiving Sale
Save up to 30% off reservations at the Finest Hotel in Jerusalem
Living in Israel Studying in English
Click & Meet our students from all around the world
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Car rental in Israel
Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved