Livni to Netanyahu: Disavow Lieberman remarks on Annapolis

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Thursday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disavow Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's remarks that Israel was not bound by commitments it made at a U.S.-sponsored conference to pursue creation of a Palestinian state.

"When such dramatic things are said without a response, it either reflects Bibi's [Netanyahu's] weakness or the fact that he essentially agrees with it," Livni told Army Radio Thursday.

"Although there is a difference of opinion between Bibi and myself, the remarks do not represent Israel. These are remarks that hurt Israel," she said.

Lieberman said on Wednesday that Israel was changing its policies on the peace process and was not bound by previous commitments made at a 2007 gathering in Annapolis, Maryland.

Livni said the comments turn Israel into an irrelevant player on the international scene.

"The right always says that we don't have a partner on the Palestinian side, as an excuse for the lack of progress. Now we are not a partner," Livni said.

She added that Kadima would have joined a unity government had Lieberman been prevented from joining.

"All of us, myself, Netanyahu and Barak, could have sat down to check our respective platforms, to embark on a new path that would lead Israel to real peace," Livni said. "Now it is clear that there are two paths for managing Israel - one is Netanyahu's path and the second will be presented by Kadima in opposition.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Lieberman's remarks were an insult to the world powers pushing for peace.

"He has slammed the door in the face of the U.S. and the international community," Erekat said. "It seems to me that this is President Obama's first real test."

A close Netanyahu ally, Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, said Thursday that Lieberman's comments reflected the position of the prime minister's Likud Party, which did not accept the Annapolis peace talks.

"The process was not accepted by the Likud, and today will not be accepted by the Israeli government," Erdan said.

In an interview Wednesday with Israel's Channel 2 TV, Lieberman went beyond his criticism of peace talks with the Palestinians and said he opposed any withdrawal from the Golan Heights in return for a peace deal with Syria.

"I am very much in favor of peace with Syria, but only on one basis - peace in return for peace," he said, adding there would be "no withdrawals from the Golan during my time and hopefully not at any time."

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government held indirect peace talks last year with Syria, which demands that Israel return the Golan as a condition for any deal.

Erdan said Lieberman's statement conformed with the government's platform.

"We said during the election campaign that we oppose concessions on the Golan Heights," he said. "You have to get used to it - this is the position of most of the public."