Livni: Government further isolating Israel
After FM says Israel 'does not need tips' from Europe, Opposition leader claims cabinet includes people who 'represent extreme nationalism'
"Instead of conducting policy this government reprimands the world and further isolates Israel," Opposition leader Tzipi Livni said Sunday after Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on European nations to condemn the Palestinian Authority rather than criticize settlement construction in the West Bank and rightist violence.
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Speaking at a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony in Beersheba, the Kadima chairwoman said "this is wrong from a security standpoint. We have proven that we can get legitimacy to fight terror during Operation Cast Lead, during which we cooperated with the (international community) and the world believed in us.
"The world knew we were conducting serious negotiations to reach an agreement, but on the other hand we vigorously fight terror. This trust does not exist anymore," she said.
Livni added that "rightist elements in Israeli society feel that they have (support). They realize that (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu does not really make the decisions and that his government includes people who represent extreme nationalism and ultra-Orthodox political elements.
"This is an attempt to force a non-democratic and non-Zionist state on the Zionist majority," she claimed.
Earlier, Lieberman told Israeli ambassadors "we don't need to apologize, quite the contrary. Israeli democracy has nothing to be ashamed of – even in comparison with the glorious British democracy - and we do not need tips on how to handle rioters who break the law in Judea and Samaria or in any other place in the country."
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