Livni: Palestinian statehood isn't a favor to Obama, it's vital for Israel

[oberliner]

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni said Monday that Israel must adopt the vision of a two-state solution, telling an AIPAC conference that it was the only way to preserve its status as the Jewish homeland.

"Inaction is not an option" to the stalled peace process, Livni told the conference a day after Obama delivered his own address to the pro-Israel lobby clarifying his vision for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with land swaps, which was immediately rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies.

Taking a much more official tone than she usually reserves for her Jewish audiences abroad, Livni said that she had decided to come before to the conference "not to ask what the U.S. can do for Israel, but what we can do together to confront the challenges."

If Israel did not take a step to lead the peace process, it would inevitably be led, she said. Israel should welcome the sentiment of hope accompanying the changes that have swept the Middle East, Livni said, but warned that as Zionists "we can't only hope, we can't remain indifferent to this battle that will shape our future".

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/livni-palestinian-statehood-isn-t-a-favor-to-obama-it-s-vital-for-israel-1.363596

[JonScholar]

1. When did Livni ever offer the Palestinians a settlement in compliance with the Geneva Accords?

Talk is cheap

[shira]

2. What makes you think the PA would accept the Geneva Accords?

Olmert's offer (with Livni's help) in 2008 came close enough for the Geneva Accord people to proudly endorse it.

[shira]

4. Livni (Olmert) offer similar to Geneva Accord

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=339669&mesg_id=340032

[oberliner]

3. Times have changed

Obama is the president now, not Bush.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Livni is making a lot of sense right now.

[oberliner]

6. Makes me very sad

To think of where we might be right now if she was PM.

[shira]

7. What do you think the difference would be?

I'm not sure all that much would be significantly different.

Better yes for sure with no Lieberman or Netanyahu - but a Livni gov't would be pilloried as Olmert's was for Cast Lead, etc. Israel would still be described as run by a rightwing coalition.

Abbas rejected Olmert/Livni's best offer so I'm not sure what they'd negotiate with Obama.

Your take?

[oberliner]

8. I think there'd be a much better chance for a breakthrough

I think between Obama's active engagement in the process and Livni's eagerness to make a two-state solution a reality, there would have been a deal made with Abbas/Fayyad before September.