Livni: Mideast monitoring world's efforts to stop Iran

The Middle East is keeping a close eye on the international community's efforts to halt Iran's nuclear weapons program, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni told visiting U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones in Jerusalem on Thursday.

"We live in a world of perceptions and appearances, and Iran is no North Korea," Livni told Jones. "In such a world, it is incumbent upon the international community, led by the United States, to be clear about Iran and the question of whether the world will stop a nuclear Iran or will reconcile with it. The world needs to be more clearer and sharper on this issue."

"Even in a time of dialogue, the international community must ready harsh and more active sanctions so that Iran will understand what is on the agenda," Livni added. "It is not only Iran that is testing international determination but also other countries in the Middle East that are being threatened by Iran."

Jones met on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The two men discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Iranian threat and other issues relating to promoting Middle East peace.

Netanyahu told Jones that Israel would not fully open the Gaza border crossings until captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit was released.

Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a June 2006 cross-border raid. Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails in return for Shalit's freedom.

	Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni.
	Photo by: Getty Images