Livni: Netanyahu has no plan to present to US

Opposition leader Livni criticizes PM, heads to US to meet Clinton, officials and address AIPAC forum.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Livni cool 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Livni cool 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni headed to the US on Sunday for meetings with American officials and to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual policy conference. Livni is to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones. In an interview with Army Radio on Sunday morning, Livni criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet the US president in Washington on May 18, saying, "In my opinion, it's problematic that the government still has no organized plan to present to the Americans." Livni added that taking the two-state solution off the table would pose a strategic risk. "I have still not been convinced of the will on the part of the new government to move ahead with this solution," she said. "I had a meeting with Netanyahu during which I clarified the position I intend to present in my meetings in the US, including the need to stop Iran's nuclear program and to fight terrorism," she continued. "I don't believe in dialogue with Hamas when it's still on its aggressive course, so negotiations must be conducted with the moderates." The Likud dismissed Livni's criticism, saying in a statement, "In stark contrast to the Kadima government that held talks with the Palestinians and got nothing in return, the Likud will conduct negotiations in order to reach real peace." The statement went on to say that a basic condition for resuming peace talks was Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish sate, something it said Kadima "did not stick to, like it didn't stick to anything." Peres will meet with Clinton, US President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The president's meeting with Obama - the first formal talks between the new US leader and an Israeli official - is expected to focus on the global effort to thwart Iran's nuclear program, the diplomatic process with the Palestinians and captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit. "The government is currently undergoing a policy review and we need to wait until it's complete," Peres told Army Radio. "I will update Obama on the developments, but the main thing that unfortunately cannot be ignored is Iran, which is trying to gain control of the region."