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Last update - 11:01 10/11/2009
Kadima warms to Mofaz plan for Hamas talks, despite Livni opposition
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Shaul Mofaz, Hamas 

Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni on Tuesday slammed party rival Shaul Mofaz' plan to open negotiations with Hamas in order to push forth the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying the concept ran contrary to their faction's political platform.

While Livni would prefer to ignore the initiative of her number 2, however, she will not be able to avoid the issue for very long, as Kadima MKs are demanding a serious discussion of Mofaz's proposal.

Mofaz has already asked Livni to hold a discussion on his proposal to establish a Palestinian state - with temporary borders on 60 percent of the West Bank - within a year. He dropped another bombshell by saying he would also be willing to negotiate with Hamas, as long as the organization agrees to the Quartet's conditions and changes its agenda.
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Kadima's weekly Knesset faction meeting was canceled Tuesday due to Livni's trip to the General Assembly of North American Jewish Federations in Washington.

In the meantime, Mofaz has already met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel James B. Cunningham and laid out his proposals - in the hope they will find their way to the U.S. administration and even President Barack Obama. Mofaz will travel to the United States next Monday and try to advance his initiative with members of Congress and others.

Mofaz's plan, announced on Sunday, is gathering support in Kadima, partly because it presents the party as an opposition with initiative.

However, his initiative will get in Livni's way, as she supports the Annapolis process. Still, senior Kadima MKs say Livni will have no choice but to discuss the proposal.

Livni views Mofaz's initiative as a political move, and is expected to say that establishing a temporary Palestinian state before reaching a permanent peace agreement is a mistake, and that the framework laid out at Annapolis is the way to proceed.

Mofaz recently asked for a legal opinion as to whether he was allowed to meet with Hamas officials, Channel 10 reported on Monday, but he has yet to receive an answer.

A number of Kadima MKs, some of whom supported Livni in her primary fight against Mofaz, support discussing his proposal. These include Shai Hermesh, Marina Solodkin and Yohanan Plesner - who were among the party members shown Mofaz's proposals before he went public with them.

"This is an interesting plan and should be discussed seriously inside Kadima and elsewhere," said Hermesh. He added that the foundation of the plan is what differentiates Kadima from the Likud. However, a number of former ministers in Kadima criticized the plan, including Roni Bar-On, Jacob Edery and Avi Dichter.

Mofaz prepared to 'talk to the devil' himself

According to Israel Radio, Mofaz said Monday that he was willing to "talk to the devil himself if that's what will bring peace."

In recent years, Mofaz has vehemently rejected any contact with the Islamist Hamas, who violently seized control over the Gaza Strip in a bloody coup in 2007. In a complete turnaround, Mofaz told Israel Radio Monday that if Hamas is voted to power in the upcoming elections - scheduled for January - he is willing to negotiate with them.

The former IDF chief of staff also told Channel 10 that "if Hamas officials, whose leaders I've killed, want to meet with me, I'll talk to them."

He criticized Netanyahu's lack of action toward peace, saying "my diplomatic plan is open to adjustments and criticism, but at least I presented some kind of plan. During Netanyahu's term, even that wasn't done."

According to Channel 10, Mofaz is currently reviewing the legal implications of meeting with Hamas officials, and whether it would be legally permitted, as Hamas is classified as a terror organization that is hostile to Israel.

Another problem facing a possible meeting is the location. The meeting is likely to take place in neutral territory, outside Israel and Gaza.
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  1.   Israel is falling apart lead by Generals of Surrender ,Rabin,Bara 22:09  |  Absolute Sweden 09/11/09
  2.   There won`t be such talk because Iran doesn`t need it. 22:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/11/09
  3.   Even if coming from a unlikely source 22:34  |  Victor 09/11/09
  4.   Getting ahead of the situation 22:49  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
  5.   Don`t fly, Leopard doesn`t change spots 22:55  |  JJ 09/11/09
  6.   Ahead in Case PA Dissolved 23:09  |  Jane 09/11/09
  7.   Finally 23:11  |  Arnold 09/11/09
  8.   Mofaz is as prone to negotiate with hamas 23:35  |  Axel 09/11/09
  9.   Hamas Will Not Talk 23:50  |  Ron 09/11/09
  10.   DESPARATE MOVE BY AN IRRELEVANT WOULD-BE POLITICIAN 01:02  |  Steve of Mevaserret 10/11/09
  11.   Are these reactions for real... 01:11  |  David 10/11/09
  12.   creating an enemy to talk with 02:01  |  VIPER 10/11/09
  13.   Bravo, Mofaz 04:46  |  Jimmy 10/11/09
  14.   Mofaz Talking to Hamas 04:50  |  Avi 10/11/09
  15.   Mofaz, give everything away for your chair! 05:07  |  James Baker 10/11/09
  16.   hi mofaz, join hamas. then no problem meeting w them. 05:08  |  Harold Armstrong 10/11/09
  17.   Mofaz: Desperately Seeking Relevance 05:33  |  Steve of Mevaserret 10/11/09
  18.   Steve 06:07  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/09
  19.   good for mofaz! but his plan is about 38% shy of being credible 06:14  |  eric 10/11/09
  20.   thnk god 06:32  |  adam 10/11/09
  21.   3/4 th class politician 08:05  |  sami abu ismail 10/11/09
  22.   The Palestinians shouldn`t accept Mofaz`s short changing... 10:35  |  Dutch 10/11/09
  23.   I guess he wants to explain to Hamas how he ... 11:25  |  Mark 10/11/09
  24.   Mofaz 11:40  |  flora 10/11/09
  25.   Since when does Hamas talk? 13:45  |  Seriously 10/11/09
  26.   Peace 14:33  |  Steve 10/11/09
  27.   A valid initiative 14:38  |  r cummings 10/11/09
  28.   #1 Absolute Sweden---aint it nice 15:48  |  labhras 10/11/09
  29.   Peace Recycle 23:29  |  Jewchai 10/11/09
  30.   A good step 23:40  |  Yasir 10/11/09
  31.   Talk to Hamas 02:03  |  Anonymous 11/11/09
  32.   Willing to talk... 06:01  |  sandra chitayat 11/11/09
  33.   "Blowing in the wind" 09:00  |  Zev 11/11/09
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