• Published 00:00 13.09.06
  • Latest update 00:00 13.09.06

Rice to tell Livni on Wednesday: Bolster Siniora and Abbas

Meeting in U.S., they will discuss situation in Lebanon, Iran's nuclear program, developments in PA.

By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is set to arrive Wednesday in the United States, where she will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and apparently also with Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

In her meetings with Rice and Hadley, Livni will discuss the situation in Lebanon, moves to block Iran's nuclear program and the latest developments in the Palestinian arena.

Rice will tell Livni at their meeting Wednesday that Israel must help bolster the standing of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel made clear to the Americans ahead of this visit that negotiations with Syria are not on the agenda for now. An official familiar with the preparatory talks said that Israeli and American positions on this subject had grown closer following the war in Lebanon.

On Iran, Livni will want to hear more about American moves to impose sanctions through the United Nations Security Council. Rice told reporters on Tuesday during a visit to Canada that there is still no clear Iranian proposal to suspend uranium enrichment, and that unless such a proposal arrives soon, sanctions will be imposed on Tehran. She added that sanctions might be imposed gradually and that more than one Security Council resolution will be needed to tighten them.

Rice and Livni will try to coordinate a response to the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Both countries do not consider this development sufficient reason to alter the prerequisites for talks with the PA. Israel will update the U.S. on potential gestures toward Abbas, among them the possibility of handing over responsibility for West Bank towns to the presidential force under his command.

In Washington, Livni is scheduled to meet with the heads of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Congressional leaders and Jewish lawmakers. She will address the board of trustees of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Friday.

Livni will go to New York at the end of the week for no fewer than 20 meetings with heads of state and foreign ministers, there for the UN General Assembly meeting.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in July. (AP)

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    This story is by: Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent
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  • 17. 0 0
    #12
    • Jeff
    • 13.09.06
    • 13:25

    According to a spokeman for AIPAC in Atlanta in late 2000, AIPAC gets its decision/policy making intellegence from the 'US STATE DEPARTMENT' WAKE UP PSYCHOS!

  • 16. 0 0
    = bolter Hezbalah and Hamas
    • Jeff
    • 13.09.06
    • 13:12

    Seems to me, the Jews should be a heck of lot more angry with USA then the Muslims are! Double dealing has destroyed the whole middle east! Jews and Arabs have been played for fools, pit against each other like rats in a cage. In the end, Hezballah and Hamas are doing only what USA sets them up to do! GET IT!

  • 15. 0 0
    The defination of chuptza is Condolezza Rice.
    • Avraham
    • 13.09.06
    • 12:46

    I don't remember voting for Bush or Rice in the last election. What gives them the right to meddle in our business?

  • 14. 0 0
    If Seniora Needs Israel to Back Him What is he Worth ?
    • Karim
    • 13.09.06
    • 12:10

    Mr Seniora does not represent the interests of his own people. He is working day & night since he came into power for depriving Lebanon from the only efficient defense he has. He has taken a severe blow during the last war because he appeared with his true face : a traitor and a US collaborator. If he needs Israel to save his face what is his worth ? He would do better to resign & leave the country, but can he do anything that is not approved by the US ?

  • 13. 0 0
    #10 ,Johnboy , Replay the video of 1701
    • Joseph E .
    • 13.09.06
    • 11:50

    the items or parts of the resolution # 1701 are not linked and are enforcable and the unconditional release of the soldiers is written black on white on UN paper and immediate in video (Condi-oral), the issue is that Lebanon refuses to face directly the militia group within Lebanon to let him link an exchange ,for Lebanon cannot ask back for a sentenced terrorist , therefore lebanon is in breach of that part of the resolution , the unconditional soldiers release ,for the cease fire implies lebanon liability based on the reason of that conflict wich is the kidnapping of the soldiers and their unconditional return for the stability of the cease fire .

  • 12. 0 0
    Leading the blind
    • sh
    • 13.09.06
    • 09:57

    It has to come from Rice? Why does it always have to be a puppet show?

  • 11. 0 0
    Jonathan
    • Johnboy
    • 13.09.06
    • 09:33

    It's complicated. Oh, yeah, it's complicated. As far as I can tell, George Bush sets Israeli foreign policy, and the Israeli government is the USAs lapdog. But USA foreign policy is hijacked by AIPAC, who pull the strings behind the scenes. But AIPAC is controlled by the Israelis, who therefore control the body that controls the body that controls them. Complicated, I know, but it boils down to them all forming a conga-line of arses-kissers - none of whom really know if they are in charge or not, but are all happy to go along while the music keeps playing.

  • 10. 0 0
    Joseph E - go read the text of Resol 1701
    • Johnboy
    • 13.09.06
    • 09:26

    and then come back here when you know what you are talking about. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 does not demand the unconditional release of the prisoners. They do not even rate a mention in the actual conditions - the enforceable portion - of the resolution, and so their continued incarceration is not a breach of the ceasefire.

  • 9. 0 0
    # 5 Dave ,NYC , Rabin Square Last Saturday Night
    • Joseph E .
    • 13.09.06
    • 08:55

    Would Have Been The Social Gathering of Your Kind to Make Friends For you To Share Some Grievances For your Completely Dark Ground. Quote "Nothing is more dangerous for Israel than meetings between Rice & Livni....Rice... When it comes to dealing with Arabs on the ground she`s completely in the dark...Livni, is a pathetic appeaser with less of a spine than spineless Olmert...This is exactly why Israelis must use public pressure to make Olmert & Livni step down. Every day that they stay in power increases the danger to Israel." AnyWay The # Would Have Jumped From 30.000 to Plus 1 That Ended Up With a Sweet to Calm Down the Baby. Relax , Enjoy your Time Square.

  • 8. 0 0
  • 7. 0 0
    Does Israel REALLY have a foreign policy?
    • Jonathan
    • 13.09.06
    • 08:22

    who decides the Israeli policy, washington or Tel Aviv? or is it AIPAC?

  • 6. 0 0
    # 2 Sylvia , You Know Zip About US
    • Joseph E .
    • 13.09.06
    • 08:13

    Quote" Why meet with Rice or even Bush. AIPAC and the Jewish lobby are the ones who control the US. Why speak to the monkey when you can speak to the organ grinder?". Watch C-Span Or Congress Sub-Commitees Hearings , THat Could Also Help You Reduce Your Zip About US.

  • 5. 0 0
    Two Birdbrains Chirping Together
    • dave
    • 13.09.06
    • 07:39

    Nothing is more dangerous for Israel than meetings between Rice & Livni. Rice has an over simplistic and naive view of the region and it's key players. When it comes to dealing with Arabs on the ground she's completely in the dark. She then concocts all kinds of theories and maneuvers that often backfire. Her counterpart, Foreign Affairs intern Livni, is a pathetic appeaser with less of a spine than spineless Olmert. She is a lover of political science experiments that involve the lives of real people, like those that we saw in the Gaza expulsion and the Lebanon war. She caves in advance to anything Rice suggests and afterwards makes broad "tough guy" statements that everyone sees through. Thhis is exactly why Israelis must use public pressure to make Olmert & Livni step down. Every day that they stay in power increases the danger to Israel.

  • 4. 0 0
    DON'T YOU SLOW DOWN NOW LIVNI
    • Joseph E .
    • 13.09.06
    • 07:37

    Have Fox News And Condi Bring Back TO The UN # 1701 , The Part That Deals With The Unconditional Release of the Soldiers. Could You Please Tell Condi To Have Bush Oil His Ranch's Chainsaw For Iran , Meanwhile Sanctions Till Show Time. As For Bolstering Abbas And Siniora Standing Beside the possibility of handing over responsibility for West Bank towns to the presidential force under Abbas command,Europe Could Have A pit Stop In Syria For Balance Of Fairness Versus Unity Gov't(s) Let's Say Thru Europe's Vast Connections to The Arab League , For the Sake of Europe Appeasement Policy. Have Fun With The Rest Of the Schedule, After The Trip The Dead Sea Or Eilat are Your Choices For A Deserved Braketime ,

  • 3. 0 0
    Why meet with Rice, AIPAC is real ruler of America
    • Sylvia
    • 13.09.06
    • 07:33

    Why meet with Rice or even Bush. AIPAC and the Jewish lobby are the ones who control the US. Why speak to the monkey when you can speak to the organ grinder?

  • 2. 0 0
    What The Heck Is Wrong With Our Leaders?
    • Sam The Sham
    • 13.09.06
    • 07:28

    I go on Debka.com and find out that Livni, Olmert and Peretz are in trouble with President Bush over mishandling the Lebanon War and not following through on promises Olmert made. Then I see that President Bush has not done a thing about closing the Mexican Border and now there is supposed to be a Al Qaeda Saudi Arabian who crossed over with a dirty bomb! Where are we headed friends? Selah!

  • 1. 0 0
    JUST APPEASE SOME MORE
    • Sam Weinstein
    • 13.09.06
    • 07:06

    As the Arabist say Just Appease some more.