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Last update - 16:29 04/05/2009
Livni: Iran threat opens door to peace with Arabs
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: AIPAC, tzipi livni 

Opposition leader and Kadima party head Tzipi Livni on Sunday said that Israel must view the threat posed by Iran as an opportunity to further peace with other neighbors in the region.

"Let me be clear: On the issue of Iran, there is no opposition party in Israel," Livni told an audience at the annual AIPAC conference in Washington.

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ivni continued: "The threat from Iran has created new possibilities for alliances between Israel and the pragmatic states in the region - countries that realize that Israel is not the source of the problems in the Middle East."

The former foreign minister also told the conference of the pro-Israel lobby that time is not on Israel's side, and that a solution to the conflict with the Palestinians is not "an Israeli concession but an Israeli interest."

"If we try to buy time our problems will get worse not better," Livni said, adding that Israel's leaders must make difficult decisions sooner rather than later. "It is the evasion of difficult decisions, not taking them, that is the strategic threat to Israel's future."

Livni told the group that her objective is to ensure the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State, even if it requires relinquishing land.

"We need to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel," Livni said. "This is not a technical matter, it is a matter of our survival. And in the choice between giving up our values, the 'raison d'etre' of Israel, and giving up part of the land, I choose the land."

Livni said that it is her role as opposition leader to "say these things loudly, clearly and respectfully."

"It will not be easy, but being a Jew never was," she said.

"If we care about the future of our people in our homeland we will all find the courage and the wisdom to make the choices we can no longer afford to avoid," she concluded.

Related articles:
  • Poll: 66 percent of Israeli Jews back attack on Iran
  • Amir Oren / If Israel acquiesces on Iran, world will follow suit
  • Israel's next ambassador to U.S. tells AIPAC: We won't let Iran get nuclear weapons
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      1.   Israel- a challenge to Islam? 10:43  |  Jean Van Daem 04/05/09
      2.   The onlt real threat to peace is west bank expansion 10:47  |  Natallie Durson 04/05/09
      3.   to Natallie #1 11:04  |  bill 04/05/09
      4.   #2 more garbage from nutullie whose inventions 11:12  |  v hardman 04/05/09
      5.   Democracy?! 11:15  |  Ste 04/05/09
      6.   #2, Durson, the only real threat to peace are 11:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/05/09
      7.   At long last this lady-like voice from the opposion... 11:29  |  Esther 04/05/09
      8.   Livni is mad ! 11:39  |  Akram Zekaria 04/05/09
      9.   Lieberman at Aipac 12:07  |  Gershon 04/05/09
      10.   Livni`s issue of jewish demography is smoke in the eyes 12:08  |  Joseph.E 04/05/09
      11.   Livni`s democracy leads to arab sovereignty over Israel 12:14  |  Joseph.E 04/05/09
      12.   2-Natallie Durson : History is not a product of your imagination! 12:19  |  Akram Zekaria 04/05/09
      13.   At last someone is Talking Sense 12:26  |  Ola 04/05/09
      14.   UN Security Council 242, as is, must be the only basis for ... 12:32  |  Ehud 04/05/09
      15.   Peace ? 12:54  |  YOSGOLD 04/05/09
      16.   What a miserable excuse for making peace! 13:08  |  Ivar 04/05/09
      17.   Greetings Cipora #6 13:20  |  Esther 04/05/09
      18.   The wrong word 13:31  |  Mark Lincoln 04/05/09
      19.   Livni A Bag of Hot Air 13:47  |  Steven 04/05/09
      20.   If she really believes that 14:40  |  simha 04/05/09
      21.   The most disruptive force in the Israeli-Arab conflict is Iran. 15:27  |  Jean Van Daem 04/05/09
      22.   She is pout of touch with reality--Israel is the problem 15:29  |  American in NY 04/05/09
      23.   How stupid 15:50  |  Oded 04/05/09
      24.   Obama vs. Livini 16:28  |  Deborah 04/05/09
      25.   Peace With Arabs A Distinct Possibility... 16:34  |  Yosemite 04/05/09
      26.   Fact Is... 16:46  |  Yosemite 04/05/09
      27.   # 4 HARDMAN 16:54  |  EHUD 04/05/09
      28.   At Least One Of Iran`s Game Plans Here It Is! 18:08  |  Yosemite 04/05/09
      29.   REAL PEACE WITH MUSLIM ARABS,IS RECOGNITIION OF THE JEWISH STATE 18:20  |  J LASHAK-KOROGODSKY 04/05/09
      30.   Muslium Population False Premise 19:54  |  Kurt 04/05/09
      31.   About #2 20:08  |  John 04/05/09
      32.   Livni`s fantasy peace 20:35  |  Brod 04/05/09
      33.   "Israel not the source of problem" Give me a break tipsi! Israel 21:38  |  glenna 04/05/09
      34.   These Livni& Obama fans.... 21:48  |  Malone 04/05/09
      35.   Hot Air Baloon Livni 05:24  |  Steven 05/05/09
      36.   And is Livni, Netanyahu, Lieberman, or Israel willing? 05:35  |  Mark Lincoln 05/05/09
      37.   # 8 pay attention to what she`s saying, akram (2nd try) 09:01  |  eric 05/05/09
      38.   my dear lady livni, as much as i love you...(2nd try) 09:01  |  eric 05/05/09
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