Livni. 'Budget should reflect national vision'
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Braverman. Minister on Minority Affairs?
Photo: Dana Kopel
Livni: Democratic, Jewish values don't clash
During conference in Ma'a lot-Tarshiha, Opposition leader claims Israel has failed to create true equality in many areas, despite boasting of being democracy, indicates constitution to be solution. Livni also levels criticism at cabinet for losing sense of national vision in budget discussions, preferring to represent sectors instead of general public
Israel
has not created true equality on many issues and Arabs do not enjoy equal treatment as other populations in Israel, claimed Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni
(Kadima) on Tuesday.
Speaking at a conference in Ma'alot Tarshiha, Livni attacked the concept of appointing a minister for minority affairs, saying that the title is condescending. "All the ministers are supposed to handle all the sectors in general. So, only Minister Avishay Braverman is supposed to deal with minorities?" challenged Livni, while Braverman was in attendance.
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The Opposition leader said, "The State of Israel, who boasts about being a democracy, does not uphold true equality on many fronts.
Livni added, "It is imperative to remember that Israel is a democratic country alongside being the national home of the Jewish people." She emphasized, "These values exist together, and do not need to clash."
The Kadima chairwoman claimed, "One of the problems in the country is the lack of support for a constitution that will include the values of a Jewish national home and of a democracy, instead of resting on basic laws that are supported by the courts."
Livni did not mince words with the Arab population, either. "The fact that some of the Arab public is not prepared to consolidate these values together hurts us and hurts them, as a minority."
She sought to pass the message to minorities that elections are an opportunity to influence the goings-on of the State. She also asserted that voting for a party that only represents the interests of the minority is not a proper strategy because such parties are left on the fringe of political debate that affects everyday life and the shaping of the country.
Livni leveled criticism at the political stagnation of the Knesset, and said that the two-state principle "serves our existence. We are not doing a favor for (US President Barack) Obama by upholding this principle."
'Budget shouldn't be sectoral'
During the conference, Livni said, "A budget is not some kind of mathematical accounting that gets divided among many mouths. A budget is supposed to give expression to a shared vision, from within which the line items are translated into programs that receive funding, while others remain on paper."
Livni also attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, saying, "Only when the cabinet and every one of its ministers understands that they do not represent one specific sector, but the entire public in the State of Israel and are judged for their actions towards the general public – only then will this be expressed in ministry budgeting." Livni clarified that "such is not the case today."
Attending the conference were Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister Shalom Simhon, Minister Silvan Shalom, and various members of Knesset, and local council heads.
