Livni to Haaretz: Likud and Kadima must join forces for peace
Opposition leader: Parties must combine forces to reach peace agreement with Palestinians, bring about a social shift.
By Aluf BennStory Highlights
- Opposition leader blasts PM for 'paying off' ultra-Orthodox
- Says Netanyahu avoiding making decisions on peace process
Opposition leader MK Tzipi Livni (Kadima ) on Thursday called to combine the forces of "the two large Zionist parties in Israel" - Kadima and Likud - to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians and bring about a social shift.
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Opposition leader Tzipi Livni |
| Photo by: AP |
"The prime minister is the one preventing the change," Livni said in an interview with Haaretz. "The parties he called 'our natural partners' before the elections are his means of preventing the change. There is no connection between what they represent and the Zionist vision. Neither the one [Theodor] Herzl outlined nor [Ze'ev] Jabotinsky, whose civic doctrine they have cast aside."
Livni blasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "paying off" the ultra-Orthodox so that he could avoid making a decision on the peace process. She said Netanyahu is also evading a decision on social issues.
After the elections last year Livni met Netanyahu, who told her "the right-wing bloc won," she said. "I told him, there's another option, combining the two large parties' forces to advance peace [with the Palestinians] and internal agendas."
"Israel 2010 is a country in which women ride in the back of the bus, dry bones take precedence over saving lives, conversion is a mission impossible, the Zionist vision has blurred and defining the Jewish state has been given to a monopoly of ultra-Orthodox politicians that are taking advantage of the system and politicians. Society is divided into cloistered groups, each studying in its language - Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish - the curriculum it sees fit," she said.
The public's attention has focused on the ultra-Orthodox community and core curriculum in recent days, Livni said, "and rightly so. We must act now, before the situation turns into mutual hatred that will bring no solution. Change is possible and the keys to change are in the hands of the Zionist parties representing the majority in Israel."
The change must consist of three co-dependent elements - education, military or national service and work, she said.
"The core curriculum is necessary from two aspects - creating a common basis reflecting Israel's values as a democratic Jewish state. Judaism and civic studies [must be taught] in every school. The second is providing every student with tools to join the labor force in the future and make a decent living. This is the only interpretation of equality - equal opportunity to students and a fairer distribution of the burden among the population. This, with joint values and vision, are critical to our existence as a society. Pluralism is not a substitute but complementary."
Livni said the state must cut off funding immediately for schools that don't teach core curriculum.
"Change is possible, but it will not be done with the agreement of the ultra-Orthodox parties. They have no reason [to agree], as long as Likud is the ruling party. Likud has bound its political destiny and all Israelis' fate to the ultra-Orthodox politicians' whims," she said.
"Kadima in my leadership refused to mortgage its world view. True, Kadima governments paid in the past. In my leadership it won't do so any more," Livni said.
Had Likud not dealt with the ultra-Orthodox, the two large Zionist parties could change the collision course Israel is on, both on the domestic and international fronts, she said. We could turn to a democratic Jewish-Zionist track, which protects individual rights in a democracy and creates a national common basis for the Jewish state, she said.
"The two parties could change the system of government to reduce the extortion power of the small parties, condition education funding on teaching the core curriculum and encourage anyone who can to join the labor force. They could also reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians based on two states. This is the only way to preserve the Jewish democratic identity," she said.
The peace goals and social goals are not contradictory, she said.
"In the past people used to say it was a matter of priorities, that it was worth paying and giving up [certain goals] to do the really important things, like a peace agreement. But this government is paying so that it won't have to reach an agreement. We can't wait and mend society only after we win all the battles. Otherwise it will be too late," she said.
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But when it comes done to the crunch and action is required, he will revert to his default do-nothing position.
Yes this would be a good idea. But Mrs. Livnie have won the election with a small mayority and did not take her chances then. I think it is time that Kadima change her leadership0.
First reasonable idea I have heard from Israel in a long time.
Not with her at the helm of Kadima
If Livni and Kadima joins the coalition democracy will have been destroyed in Israel. The government will be ran by US puppets at the direction of Clinton and Obama. Even Ehud Barak had help from President Clinton when he was running for PM years ago remember James Carville . In my opinion Civil War could occur. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com
After the election Bibi offered Livni the oportunty to join the coalition but Livnis ego said unless its a rotatiing premiership then no deal and so she walked away. Only a matter of months ago Bibi was reached out to Livni again and again she rejected. Livni expected Obama to have brought down Bibi long ago by causing his coalition to colapse and put into a situation whereby he either needs Kadima on Livnis terms or he has to fight an election which Obama would have helped Livni as much as possible from behind the scenes. Now things havnt gone as she planned so she is trying to act like its Bibi who keepts rejecting her offers to work together. I have no great love for Bibi but Livni is certainly not PM material. Livni is nothing more than a hypocritical oportunist
One weak leader to another. Where's the Left?????
all of Israel's ills are due to the Religious people? Not that 30 families control the economy of Israel? Not that the Unions control the work force where you cannot fire an incompetent person...Education that does not teach any tradition of 3000 years...? She has not learned anything in sitting on the birds perch.
If Livni had given up her demand for prime minsterial rotation, this could have happened. Thus her putting the blame on Netanyahu doesn't work. Kadima was never cut out to be an effective opposition party, but a party of actualizing reform for the Middle Israeli, which could only be done within the government. Get ready for deepening right left polarization throughout the world which is already making Kadima's centrist ethos irrelevant.
rabin bought Shas to bring the GANg of murderers to Israel- PLO etc. Livni is nill- she uses the same trick again . Europe loves Livni.. She should focus on palis in Israel and arabs that take over the negev, do not pay taxes, get benefits, dont go to the army, try to kill jews and work with prooven jew hater like Hesbollah etc. If she uses simplistc blablabla, so can I, as posted. Haaretz would never dare to print bs from the right- Bs from the left is O.K. It does not fit !! Livni has no mandate from left; only with palis within Israel she can get a so call majority, and only if she kicks hard jews (haredim). Haredim have a pluarity of sub-group etc. Do not tend to tell US that Haredim are ONE. Again Livnis bs !!
Will somebody please elect this woman to form a government willing to make peace and change the course of Israeli history?!
so tzipi wants to teach "judaism" in schools. whose judaism? how would she define the word? tzipi - please end this sentence: judaism is________.
Livni is a tough-nosed rabble rouser, but as a Jew with wanting to ensure a future of the Jewish people with its different and legitimate cultural differences, she is sorely deficient. Yes, Livni there is a strong and growing Haredi population, but they are also real Jews who have a love of the Land. That cannot be denied. To make them your whipping boy, is just like the anti-Semites of old. SOme of them may have different ideas, and certainly out of synch with the prevailing secular way, but they are legitimate. Ideas are countered with ideas not incitement as you try to do. Haven't noticed you getting so excited over the Israeli Arabs and what they say and practise. It will be frightening if, God forbid, you become the leader of the country. It waill be the saddest day for the Jews, alongside the day the world was presented with the vicious and hateful report of Goldtstone.
Enough with these ultra-orthodox people.
I'm not interested in an Israel dominated by the hareidi. All mainstream Jews should demand that heir federatiosn stop supporting any ultra-orthodox instiuions and schools and any orthodox groups that don't recognized non-orthodox institutions
That Livni is beginning to blame others for her failures is a sign of progress; at least she is recognizing them. Livni could have taken over from Olmert in October 2009, to serve as PM for 2 years. Instead, she called for new elections. The Left block had 70 seats then, and polls suggested it would shrink to a minority. Now they have only 55. Somehow, Livni thought she did the "right thing". She thought if she got more seats than Likud, she will become PM. Such an error is not becoming anybody, not even a beginner like Livni. Livni attacked Shas, and is still attacking them. The fact is that Rabbi Ovadia is a MODERATE on settlements and borders. And he is enormously respected by Sephardis, even right-wing ones. Shas SHOULD be in a coalition that makes peace, because they could sell it to many rightwingers. Livni should set some priorities: first peace, then culture wars. But she is too inept politically, to say nothing of the fact that her party voters are mostly Sephardim who are typically traditionalist and may even like Shasniks. Instead of opening her mouth, Livni should open her ears, and then work out a social agenda for her party. She is not her party, only the ugly face of it.
Livni is blowing with the wind.
"Israel 2010 is a country in which women ride in the back of the bus," really??? are you out of your mind, or just in a different universe. Tzipi just wants to get her moments as prime minster so her ego feels better. She has not accomplished a single thing in her political career, and blundered every task she has been given. Why should she get a promotion???
For years I have prayed (an irony of course) for this moment... Israeli politicians speaking about getting topgether, jopining forces and standing up against the religious parties and all that they stand for... A light at the end of the tunnel... Let's prey that Bibi will accept...!!!
Livne wants to join the goernment !~!Who asked her,Nobody wants a leftest groveling under a,erican Kadima. She can go to barak _He might take her suggestions.
if she is a real patriot she shoulkd resign.let barak join and lead kadima.the labour party is not a good base for barak.they hate him. everything is personal.
At last a political leader says it. For decades we have been prisoners of the ultra orthodox and anti zionist currents who sold their votes for various privileges, mostly finnancial ones. Time is running short and our future is in peril. so go ahead and create something productive and doing so enter into history as last minute saviour.
... coalition agreement, before so much murky water-had-passed-under-the-bridge...? ... integrity is fine, but excessive pride was untimely... ... if Bibi offers her a 'second chance the price may be steep...
It was clear at the time that Netanyahu wasn't interested in addressing any of these issues, but was instead interested only in popularizing his coalition. Livni cites HIM as the source for many of the problems that Israel faces which she's discussing. She has no intention of joinig HIS coalition; she's inviting 'Likud'(not Bibi), to join Kadima in a stronger and more pragmatic coalition.
If Israel was surrounded by rational actors, in lieu of autocrats and tyrants, with nothing but time and bottomless pockets, Tzipi Livni's position and political leadership-cum-vision, would be valid. If Israel's avowed enemies were serious about peace, they--at no economic and/or territorial cost to themselves--would open up the region's airspace to Israel's civil aviation, and abandon their trade boycotts. This would encourage Israeli democracy to be less supportive of Israel's more radical political elements. However, Israel's enemies see Tzipi Livni as the weak link via which they can progress their peace process of the expulsion of all the Jews in the region, and the elimination of Israel. For Tzipi Livni to form a viable coalition with Likud and Labour, instead of simply as a tactic to exclude the likes of the Haredim, she must adopt a very firm, Israel first, position.
Bibi is not THAT desperate.
Livni: I am looking for ways to enter Kadima into the coaliton. But you, Netanyahu, first you must show some hostility towards the religious parties of your coalition.
What Livni hasn't touched upon is the fact that we cannot win that battle unless we face up to reality. There's this reality: The attachment of one concept, i.e. Jewish-Zionist to the concept of Democratic needs to be explained. How does that work in reality, Ms. Livni? And this reality: the contortions of Bibi Netanyahu have awarded the reins of this country to the most extreme elements in his coalition, not in the Knesset - that would be the least of the problems - but in the field. The battlefield is in the hands of the troops of Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir. The price tag challenges his leadership and he gives it the nod and the wink. What battle can possibly ever be won with such foot-soldiers? If they win, Israel loses. Ms. Livni, these are just two examples out of many. Stop mincing words and be the opposition you promised to be. This is the first time we've seen you since the election and it's been a long year since, with much filthy water already under the bridge.
I agree. Finally it is time to make Israel a true democracy which respects everyone's rights. The Charedim should live, learn Torah, and build their wonderful society; but not at the expense of everyone else. I am Orthodox both in belief and practice. But I don't want to force that on anyone. Also, rewards from society should be based on what one gives to society -- those who serve either through the army or other service should get money for university, for schools, tax breaks etc. Those who refuse should not be forced but should not get these social benifits. Likud, Kadima, Labor, and a moderate religious zionist party should join forces. Im Tirtzu -- yes we can make peace, we can have social justice, and we can live in a society where we can agree to disagree and can be respectful in that disagreement.
Is Livni actually expressing a political opinion here, or is it just wishful reading?
excellent article,right vision of Livni, which would certainly be better than Netanyahu, the haredi ( and their supporters) are a lethal danger for Israel's existence, the greatness of Israel is du to the seculars, those who rejected the religion
Hmmmm. Livni must think elections are coming up. Motherhood, apple pie, Charedi-bashing. Charedim cause adolescent acne, back pain, and lower stock prices. Yeah. Just vote for me!
...the state must cut off funding immediately for schools that don't teach core curriculum... Core curriculum should be a MUST to all schools, shouldn't it? How can a school get ITS LICENCE without supporting the core curriculum!!? Or is it about being a RELIGIOUS SCHOOL!? Can a "religious doctor" practice in Israeli without doctor's license as well!? This should be a mission impossible, not conversion (Golda Meir told not once everyone crazy enough to want to be a Jew should be allowed to be one).
And then you would give away Jerusalem. NO WAY
That is why being in the opposition is always nice. You can always play the smart ass. Why did't she implement these ideas when she was in power with Olmert, instead of waging wars.
Livni thinks that she will get more votes by pandering to the secular anti-religious bloc, and is also motivated to ensure that Yair Lapid does not resurrect the Shinui party. However, it has been shown that that bloc is less than 20% of the population, and most of it voted for Livni in the past election. By such pandering, Livni is ensuring that religious parties (especially Shas) will not join her in a coalition. The reason that Livni (who got 28 seats as opposed to Likud's 27 seats) could not form a coalition in the past election is that she alienated Shas. And in almost every election in recent memory, the religious parties held the balance of power. In addition, Livni's anti-religious stance alienates many traditional non-religious voters, who while non-religious, still feel close to religion. There are many more of those voters than there are secular anti-religious voters.
NOT Netanyahu
and my respect for her has just risen dramatically. talk about a mouthful of pragmatism! i hope the people of israel are listening closely.
What more can I say! I waited 2 years to hear that. One caveat however...Lieberman...you know what I mean...make him minister of religion.
If it could only happen and give Israel its last chance to survive as a normal country and get rid of the desastrous influence of the haredim
Livni is right, to have a government that is restricted in its policies by those who don't fight in the army, aren't bound by love to Israel, and harm the lives of the millions of Jews who live in Israel proper. Fight against them now politically, or wait a few years and you will have to use military force to retain Israel's secular government.
I like the exposition of Livni's ideas. She could be the next Golda Meir.
... the undemocratic have the most to earn from democracy...
Try to turn this around and get realistic peace. Some territory but not right of return and Israel must exist through several meathods,
in short: survival of the haredim... she highlights what is true for every group on world, but maybe its also the most misunderstood things: the haredim had no chance to exist, when they werent member of a society as israel is. thats why they have to support and contribute to it, not fight it. in order to survive, the haredim (as everyone else) must be interested to keep israel in a balance, so it stays capable of supporting groups like them - besides itself. livnis speech aims on the survival of haredim in the long run, while bibis alleged "support" is in fact sealing their demise, plus everyone elses.
Most Jews in the world are not Haredi.In the US, the divide between Israel and the Jewish community is growing.Israel being joined together with the Haredim spit on us Amer. Jews.The State does not recognize our Rabbis,yet the Haredim, and the State of Israel,come to us begging for money and political support.My wife and my son say that since our grand-children are not accepted as Jews,Israel can look to the X'er right-wing nuts for support.By the way,I still Shomer Shabbat.
Israel needs to get it's head out of 1948 and start living in 2010 if it wants a prosperous future. Netanyahu getting re-elected is the equivalent of George W. Bush getting re-elected. The ONLY thing I like that Netanyahu has done since taking office is sending Mossad to Dubai. Beyond that? Nothing. Livni is "New Israel" and I'm saying this as a dual Israel / American citizen. Netaynahu has gotten overly stubborn and doesn't make decisions for the ENTIRE country's population and well being. Livni is the Hilary Clinton of Israel and I have NO IDEA how she lost to Bibi. Israel must speak to the world by WHO they vote into office. Period!
not a fan of Kadima... was a fan of Sharon... i support Likud now. She is right
MK Livni is accurate to suggest that there are similarities between Kadima and Likud parties. However the idea of isolating the Orthodox community from a social change within Israel and a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians doesn't really sit well. Also, whatever happened to the Labour party and its efforts towards peace? Who could exclude those who dedicated their political life to reconciliation with the Arab world?
Livni urges Likud and Kadima to join forces against Haredim. Livni makes good sense in this article. Looking from the outside, through dusty lens, it seems there is a "state-within-the state" in Israel now. Not quite the early Zionist vision. It is more like the Foreign critics of old told it, but in your own homeland. Anyway, Good Luck.
in the Middle East and a working relation between the State of Israel and the diaspera Jews are the Haredim. I am a Reform Jew in America and these people do not recognize me as a Jew and for that reason I have turned my back on the State of Israel. You need to get control of these people by whatever means or that State of Israel means nothing and you will never be able to survive as a moral force in the world.
Zionists unite! This seems like something I could back.
Livni, whose party of failed opportunists and criminal-indictees is heading straight for oblivion, apparently hopes that the politics of polarization and hatred will bring her notice. Shame on her.
She certainly makes a lot of sense to me. Democracy is threatened when a religious group starts imposing its will on the majority.
The major parties should have united long ago against Haredi pressure, but it has nothing to do with the "peace process." Why is it worse for Netanyahu to pay off the Haredim to stop concessions than it was for Labor to pay off the Haredim to back concessions. Unity against the Haredim should be done for its own sake to preserve the secular state.
It's about power: if they merge, Livni will have it and Netanyahu will not - a reversal of the present state of affairs. It's not as if Livni were a dove - she was high in government when Cast Lead was hatched and executed. However, she would be more amenable to work constructively with the USA, which is below the bottom of Netanyahu's and his extremist supporters' list of things to do. She is just announcing that she's available. Where has she (and her party) been for the last several months? One wonders.
man, she hit the nail on the head
The disproportionate role that the haredim play in our country is disgusting for a modern, democratic State. They're entitled to maintain a voice in the Knesset but not to direct policy at their whim. Let's bring the voices of the secular, mainstream majority of Israelis to the forefront. Bravo Tzipi!
Ms Livni looks very prime ministerial in this photograph. Looking forward to her Leadership!
One thing you have to admire about Israel is that it allows itself to be disected openly by the politicians and the media. This is definately a tenet of Judaism which forces itself to analyze decisions and question itself.
Livni , if only you had been saying this, loud and clear, every Monday and Thursday! Start beating the drums, for this need to combine to legislate away from the course of madness presently being pursued is crucial. Why has it taken her so long?