Livni: PM is jeopardizing Israel's relationship with US

Opposition leader says Obama's speech is pro-Israel, not reason enough for Netanyahu to challenge the US.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Livni 311 reuters (photo credit: reuters)
Livni 311 reuters
(photo credit: reuters)
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni slammed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday for "harming the relationship" between Israel and the US.
"Netanyahu spoke about consensus," Livni said, "and if there is a consensus in Israel, it's that the relationship with the US is essential to Israel, and a prime minister that harms the relationship with the US over something unsubstantial is harming Israel's security and deterrence."
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Livni added that such a prime minister should resign. "I am saying this loud and clear."
"Israel's deterrence and legitimacy in the world is directly connected to our relationship with the greatest power in the world, the US," Livni said.
She explained that Obama's speech on Thursday "is not reason enough" to challenge the US, and said that Netanyahu's statements were political and meant to maintain the coalition.
"An American president that supports the two-state vision is representing Israeli interests and is not anti-Israel," Livni said.
The only way to stop the Palestinians from unilaterally declaring statehood, Livni explained, is to have the US "convince states that plan to support the decision not to do so, but to support negotiations."