Livni: Netanyahu's settlement freeze hurts Israel
Opposition chief says that while the decision is a step in the right direction, it is merely tactical.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel settlements Kadima Israel news Tzipi LivniThough the government took a step in the right direction by declaring a ten-month settlement freeze, the "tactical" move will backfire on Israel, opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni charged on Monday.
"Kadima resolved, and rightly so, not to vote no-confidence against the government because we thought [the freeze] is a correct step," Livni told a gathering of party members on Monday. "Kadima will support any step that the government takes in the right direction."
Nonetheless, the former foreign minister criticized the Netanyahu government for equating the large settlement blocs ? large clusters of communities adjacent to the Green Line that Israel intends to keep as part of any future settlement with the Palestinians ? and isolated settlements that many believe will be evacuated.
"In order for the world to get on board [in support of the freeze], the message and the decisions need to be clear in terms of historic decisions and not in terms of tactics of the moment," Livni said. "The moment that one conducts himself tactically in order to appease America and the settlers for an allotted amount of time, one comes to the realizations that a decision was not really taken."
"I heard the prime minister say to all the settlers, in [the settlement bloc of] Gush Etzion and everywhere else, that we will get through this freeze together and that everything is temporary and afterwards everything will go back to normal. This means that this is not the decision that needs to be made."
"When the government invokes in the same breath both Gush Etzion and [the settlement of] Migron, both the large blocs and the isolated settlements, this is tantamount to harming Israel's interest to keep these blocs under a final status accord," Livni said.
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It would be more efficient to just spread rumours. Your all the same black kettle.
and he's said as much to the settlers. i've made this observation several times in these talkbacks. he has essentially told them that in 10 months, it will be business as usual... this makes it clear to everyone involved that it's all just a sham that is meaningless to any negotiations...or as a prelude to any final agreement. there IS however, that outside chance that he'll use the settlers' response as a means to gain a wider israeli support an eventual final status agreement, and the evacuations that it will require. but at this point, i'm not keen on giving bibi too much benefit of the doubt. there's alot of conjecture over his "real" views on a palestinian state, but as of yet, i've not seen anything that indicates much other than "buying time".
and he's said as much to the settlers. i've made this observation several times in these talkbacks. he has essentially told them that in 10 months, it will be business as usual... this makes it clear to everyone involved that it's all just a sham that is meaningless to any negotiations...or as a prelude to any final agreement. there IS however, that outside chance that he'll use the settlers' response as a means to gain a wider israeli support an eventual final status agreement, and the evacuations that it will require. but at this point, i'm not keen on giving bibi too much benefit of the doubt. there's alot of conjecture over his "real" views on a palestinian state, but as of yet, i've not seen anything that indicates much other than "buying time".
There have been a Number of Decisions lately that Netanyahu finally made the Right Decision after Zig-Zaging including settlement freeze. This Helps for the tactical survival of his Government but does Harm to important issues that lack Long Range Policy and either "Everybody is Happy" Or Nobody is Happy. As many experienced people have said To little and too late. Zipi Livni as Responsible Opposition points this out. Sometimes I feel that Maybe Netanyahu has won another week in the Media But Israel and the Middle East are Losing.
I believe Livni was smarter than Natanyahu, she was a close friend to Abbas and she gave him nothing. She and her X-Boss Ulmert never stopped constructing settlements. Natanyahu must leave power and go back home to raise his kids, better job for him.
"Livni: Netanyahu's settlement freeze hurts Israel" Is Livni now the a sour grape for losing the election that so much badly wanted to make her a prime minster ! All Livni & her boss when in power, gave Israel appeasement & humiliation ! Has Livni anything else new to offer ! Isn't that is the leader of the opposition is all about ! To be constructive & help running the country. Attacking Netanyahu by name is wrong and cheap ! The country is run by a coalition & not by one man whose name is Netanyahu ! If Livni wants to do her job properly; she must go the the West Bank and talk to the citizens of Israel there & try to convince them of the opposition view point. And not talking about Metanyahu and searching for blames, to vindicate her opponents !