Livni: 'Palestine Papers' show peace process is not over

Opposition leader says peace talks were "not allowed to ripen" but an "end to the conflict while protecting Israel's interests" is still possible.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
311_Livni at IDC (photo credit: Channel 10 News)
311_Livni at IDC
(photo credit: Channel 10 News)
Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni responded to "The Palestine Papers" on Monday, saying that the peace process is not over.
"Today it is also clear that the process did not fail and was not exhausted," Livni said in a speech in a ceremony honoring 62 years since the Knesset's founding. "It did not end, but was not allowed to ripen until an agreement was reached because of elections in Israel and this government's choice not to continue the negotiations."
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"I was discreet throughout the negotiations over the course of many months, in order to increase the chances of an agreement, even at a personal political cost," she said. "A peace agreement that will end the conflict and protect the national and security interests of Israel is possible."
"Today it is clear to everyone that during the previous government, we built a responsible and serious process that would allow an end to the conflict, while protecting all of Israel's interests," Livni added.
The leaked papers, released by Al-Jazeera on Sunday night, recount peace negotiations since 1999. According to one of the documents, then-foreign minister Livni asked for concessions from former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei, saying that Israel was "giving up the Golan" in indirect peace talks with Syria.