Livni on the attack
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Livni: PA always blames Israel
Foreign minister: PA leader Abbas should blame himself instead of slamming Jericho raid
The Palestinians regular "modus operandi" is blaming Israel, so there is no need for the Jewish State to respond to such accusations, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday in response to charges that the IDF's Jericho raid Tuesday weakened PA leader Mahmoud Abbas' position.
"The classic Palestinian concept is blaming Israel," she said. "The Brits warned they were about to leave (the prison) and informed him (Abbas) about it, but he did nothing. On the deciding date he found himself in Vienna, called on the international community to intervene, and blamed Israel."
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"The person responsible for Abu Mazen's (Abbas) status is Abu Mazen himself," Livni said. "His position is not only dependent on Israel. His status hinges on his deeds, or failures."
Responding to journalists' questions regarding the possible weakening of Abbas' status as a result of the Jericho operation, Livni said Abbas was weakened by the "regrettable fact" he failed to comply with Britain and the United States, who demanded that the safety of foreign prison guards in Jericho be ensured.
Addressing a question about the timing of the international monitors' departure, two weeks before the Israeli elections, Livni said: "This was a British and American decision and it depended on their relationship with the Palestinians."
"The Palestinians did not meet the agreement's terms in all maters related to conditions at the prison," she said, while rejecting suggestions that Israel coordinated the operation in advance with Britain and the U.S.
