Livni on Shalit: Not everything possible
Kadima chairwoman's campaign takes her to Haifa high school, where she speaks to students about captive's case. 'It's not a question of what we want, but of what is possible,' she reiterates
Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni met with high school students in Haifa Tuesday as part of her election campaign ahead of the 2009 vote which will be held on February 10.
Livni reiterated a sentiment expressed last week, saying that while she has the utmost empathy for the case of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, not everything can be done on his behalf.
"What every young person needs to know is that they first and foremost must serve in the military, because Israel is still fighting for its existence. The public perception is that the issue of Shalit's release is up to us, but it's not a question of what we do and don’t want, it's a question of what is and isn’t possible. Not everything can be done."
Commenting on the general public's aversion of politicians, the foreign minister called on the students to see through the act of those who would have them believe that in order to be a politician, once must be corrupt.
"I'm visiting schools in order to share my views and to listen to what you have to say. Some politicians choose to keep quiet before an election, but I decided to go the other way and to put myself and what I believe in out there."
Addressing a question regarding her failure to form a coalition, Livni said that her coalition negotiations were a lesson learned: "Some parties have learned that I cannot be blackmailed."
Monday saw Livni address the Israel Business Conference and challenge Labor Chairman Ehud Barak and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu to a debate on various issues. Both men, who attended the conference, chose not to accept the challenge.
Livni lashed out at the two, saying that "some leader use the real threats Israel faces in order to panic the public into voting for a strong leader, preferably a man; a magician who would solve the financial crisis and resolve the Mideast conflict.
"That would be a big mistake," she added. "The bigger mistake is that some people would have the public think that a prime minister should innately be dishonest and manipulative."
