Coalition chairman: Livni 'just a messenger' in peace talks, PM is pulling the strings

Likud's Yariv Levin calls Livni "Netanyahu's puppet," says she has no real responsibility.

By AMISHAI GOTTLIEB
PM and Livni (photo credit: Reuters)
PM and Livni
(photo credit: Reuters)
Coalition chairman Yariv Levin on Tuesday placed full responsibility for recent peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying chief negotiator and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni only serves as his “messenger.”
During an interview with Arutz Sheva on Tuesday morning, when he was asked to react to Netanyahu’s Sunday night speech at Bar-Ilan University, he explained that while Livni is the Israeli representative in the recently renewed peace negotiations, Netanyahu is the ultimate decision maker.
“It’s important to remember, and it must not be seen in any other light. Tzipi Livni is the messenger for the negotiations,” Levin said.
“She has no real responsibility and cannot make any decisions without the explicit consent from the prime minister.”
According to Levin, since Netanyahu is the one who is truly in charge, all actions resulting from the negotiations fall on Netanyahu’s shoulders, “for better or for worse.”
Transportation Minister Israel Katz was also interviewed on the same show and called for clear political lines to be made.
“There must be a clear ideology and clear guidelines [for the talks] and then it will be less important who leads the negotiations, politicians or bureaucrats,” Katz said.
Katz attacked recent concessions made during the ongoing talks, such as the release of Palestinian prisoners.
“You can’t release the biggest murderers and then command the security authorities to fight terror while terrorists are being actively released,” Katz said.
According to Katz, the Palestinian Authority is no partner for peace.
“I don’t suggest to anyone to trust them [the Palestinians], and the prime minister also understands that he cannot rely on international agreements,” Katz said.
Meanwhile, Levin called for the continued expansion of the settlements in the West Bank.
“We need to continue strengthening all elements of settlement construction, infrastructure and people’s quality of life and to strengthen our hold on the area, as well as strengthening awareness and understanding of the importance of our right to settle in these places,” Levin said.