Livni sees 'signs of diplomatic collapse'
Opposition leader slams Netanyahu government's outpost policy, warns 'every day passing by leads to a heavy blow to Israel'
"We are already witnessing signs of a diplomatic collapse and fall, and the government must stop it," Livni told a Kadima faction meeting.
"Only when we led a solution of two states for two people we saw the entire world avoid legitimizing Hamas, because they knew Israel was serious in its dialogue."
She went on to slam Defense Minister Ehud Barak as well: "Bibi spoke about his natural partners, and it now turns out that both Barak and the Labor Party are natural partners. Barak refused to evacuate outposts for two years. He said that a dialogue was needed, and spoke for two years.
"The 'winking' over illegal outposts damages the government's ability to maintain the real important things, including in the settlements. When we were able to recruit the United States as well and receive the same treatment from (former US President George W.) Bush, it was when the United States knew that we were attempting to respond to a reality created over 40 years, rather than attempting to take more land."
Addressing the motion approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs, that marking the "catastrophe of the formation of Israel" would be considered a criminal offense, Livni demanded stressing the solution – two states for two people – "instead of laws which will solve nothing and only lead to more resentment. This cannot be the goal of a responsible government."
She added that "today things are much clearer – every day that passes since the government's inauguration leads to a heavy blow to Israel in all areas."
Barak: Not a matter of months or years
Barak himself spoke during a Labor faction meeting, and gave an estimated date for the evacuation of outposts. "We will hold a dialogue, but if not – we will do it unilaterally, using a proper amount of force," he said. "We should not say more, but this is not a matter of months or years, and we will start acting in the coming weeks.
He stressed that "a country which wishes to live must exert its authority towards its citizens."
The Likud faction also met Monday for a briefing from Prime Minister Netanyahu about his first official visit to Washington. "There are differences of approach in terms of the settlements, as happens between friends, but we are trying to find ways to bridge them in order to embark on a wide peace process," he said.
Netanyahu reiterated the understandings reached with US President Barack Obama. "I made it clear that Israel maintains it right for self-defense. We renewed traditional strategic understandings between the presidents of the United States and Israel. On the backdrop of everything that is happening, this is a very important renewal of understandings which are at the foundation of our national security."
Following the establishment of work teams with the Americans, the prime minister estimated that "in the coming days we will make progress on all issues, and I will report to the public according to the developments."
