Ayalon claims Livni distorted involvement in '04 Bush letter

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Former ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon on Sunday accused Kadima leadership candidate Tzipi Livni of distorting history by claiming she had persuaded then-prime minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W. Bush to include the refugee issue in Bush's April 2004 letter of commitments to Israel. In a Channel 1 interview, Livni claimed credit for what she said was "the greatest diplomatic achievement for Israel" in obtaining the Bush administration's commitment in the letter that the Palestinian refugee issue would be decided "in a future Palestinian state and not in Israel." Ayalon, who helped draft the letter, said the only other Israelis involved in its preparation were Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass, his diplomatic adviser Shalom Turgeman, and on security issues, former general Giora Eiland. "We worked on it for six months and nobody else was involved," Ayalon said. "Both Sharon and Bush wanted it kept confidential because it was sensitive. We didn't want it presented to the public until it was finished because we didn't want pressure and counter- pressure." Ayalon said the Israeli team ensured that the letter included not only the refugee issue but also settlement blocs, a reference to Israel's right to live in defensible borders, a commitment that the US would not force Israel into a settlement Israel would not accept, and maintaining Israel's comparative advantage. At the time, Livni was immigrant absorption minister. She received Sharon's permission to visit Washington and meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, because he wanted Livni to support the disengagement. Since then she has claimed credit for the inclusion of the refugee issue in the letter because she spoke about it with Rice. Ayalon said people close to Sharon asked him to set the record straight after they heard Livni exaggerate her role. "Does anyone really think that Ariel Sharon needed the absorption minister to remind him that the refuges issue was important?" Ayalon said. "That's why it was baffling to hear her try to take credit for it. "I have the highest respect for Livni, and she did champion the issue of refugees, but to take credit for the issue being in the letter is to distort history and reality." Livni's campaign responded that Rice herself testified that Livni had a role in ensuring that the issue would be included in the letter. "No one can take away the minister's achievement, just as she does not try to minimize the role of others involved in drafting the letter," a campaign official said.