Livni: Peace talks with Syria impossible given its current conduct
As long as Syria continues to provide arms to Hizbullah, sponsor Hamas, Israel cannot engage in negotiations with it, foreign minister says in meeting with EU envoys
Syria's current conduct prevents Israel from engaging in negotiations with it, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declared Thursday in a meeting with European Union ambassadors in Tel Aviv.
Negotiations
Palestinians slam Jerusalem construction as talks resume / Roni Sofer
With Qassam barrages falling on Sderot and a hotly contested Israeli housing project underway in Jerusalem, Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams rely heavily on Annapolis momentum to overcome obstacles towards permanent agreement
According to Livni, Syria's role in the Mideast was "unconstructive," as it continued to supply weapons to Hizbullah, meddle in Lebanese politics and support terror organizations, including Hamas.
However, Livni urged the envoys to help push Syria away from the "Axis of Evil" and bring it closer to moderate Arab countries.
The foreign minister also addressed the Iranian issue, and called on the European ambassadors to push for more sanctions against the Islamic republic in their home countries.
'Construction shouldn't hinder talks'
One of the topics brought up by the EU envoys during the meeting was the Israeli expansion of settlements in the West Bank, in violations of the Road Map for peace. Livni claimed that construction in places like east Jerusalem was carried out in accordance with permits granted by previous governments.
"However, "she stated, "these commitments should not stand in the way of negotiations, just like terror attacks and Qassam fire should not affect our desire to implement the Road Map.
"The negotiations must continue, because the objective of both sides is to reach a final-status agreement."
Referring to the possibility that Hamas and Fatah might unite during talks with Israel, Livni stressed that while Israel aspired to see one Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, "Hamas cannot be a partner when it is using terror against Israel."
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