Livni: Committed to two-state solution
Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
Ferrero-Waldner: Ball in Israel's court
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Livni to EU: Don't link upgrade of ties to peace
Opposition leader says EU-Israel ties should not depend on government's willingness to talk to Palestinians
Ex-Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni sent a letter to the European Union in an effort to prevent it from freezing plans for upgrading of ties with Israel. The EU said it would wait until the new Likud-led government commits to holding negotiations with the Palestinians before it upgrades the relationship.
The EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said in a statement that Israel is aware of what the EU has to offer in the fields of science, technology, and education. She said the EU had already displayed its good will, and that the ball was currently in Israel's court.
In the letter sent Thursday to the Czech Republic, the EU's current president, Opposition Chairwoman Livni wrote that the upgrading of ties would benefit both sides, and that Israel would like to go ahead with the move regardless of other issues.
Livni stressed her commitment to the two-state solution, and said most of the Israeli public supported this plan as well.
Livni urged the EU not to link the two issues, saying that it denies the significant rewards that the upgrade will provide for the citizens of Israel and Europe.
In conclusion, Livni stressed that the strengthening of ties rather than their weakening would best benefit Israel, Europe, and the attainment of peace in the Middle East.
