Tzipi Livni
Photo: AP
Livni: Iraq not linked to Israel-PA conflict
Foreign minister indirectly slams Baker report during ceremony opening Saban forum in Washington. ‘Conflict is between moderates and extremists,’ Livini insists
WASHINGTON - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni indirectly slammed the Baker-Hamilton report solicited by the United States administration, which linked the solution to the Iraqi crisis with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recommended America directly negotiate with Iran and Syria.
According to Livni, “The problems in the Middle East do not result from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Decisions must be made according to current circumstances, and not outdated impressions.”
The foreign minister spoke at the opening of the Saban Forum in Washington Saturday. Although she did not directly name the Baker report, her message was clear: “Today there is a completely different distribution of the Middle East. The conflict is between moderates and extremists, and in effect, Israel is on one side with the moderate Arab nations in the region.
“Some of the leaders, even if they are aware of it, don’t always express it out loud because public opinion there is influenced by old impressions,” she noted.
Livni further addressed the threat of Iranian nuclear armament. “Iran constitutes a threat not just on Israel but on all Muslim Arab nations in the region. No one in the moderate Arab world wants to see Iran, Hizbullah or Hamas succeed.”
Livni was the keynote speaker at the forum’s opening ceremony organized by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. Senior Israeli and American officials participated in the forum.
Livni is slated to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later Saturday; the Baker report is likely to come up during the talks.
The Washington forum was initiated by Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban, who flew dozens of Israeli officials to Washington to attend the three-day event. Ex-president Bill Clinton and expected presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are expected to attend, as was as Israel ministers Shimon Peres, Yuli Tamir and Avigdor Leiberman.
