Livni says not bound by Olmert's political statements

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni released a media statement Tuesday saying that "as chairwoman of the Kadima party, I am obligated only by the party's platform and not by any statement made by the outgoing prime minister."

The statement was meant to distance Livni from recent statements made by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, suggesting that Israel must make vast concessions in Jerusalem in order to propel the peace process forward.

Olmert's statement, said a source close to Livni, might be seen as his only legacy, at least as far as the international community is concerned: "This is a de-facto commitment by an acting prime minister, to the world, the Obama Administration and the Palestinians," added the source. "It's a declaration of policy which was not sanctioned by the party."

"In Sharm el-Sheik," continued Livni's statement, "we set the guidelines for future negotiations along with the Palestinians, and with the backing of the entire world. It's not over until it's over. We will proceed without the world pressuring us or pushing either side to cede their national interests.

"This proves we can negotiate my way, without discussing any of the points mentioned by the outgoing prime minister yesterday. I am committed only to the platform which I wrote. I believe in it, and it sets the exact guidelines under which the talks will be conducted."

While Israel should pursue ways to propel the process, "there are some things we have to observe, and if we don't get some of the things we're asking for – there will be no accord.

"The expectation of the person heading the negotiations is to make sure that the result will be more than just ceding assets, but that national and security interests are kept intact. That stand is widely accepted, by both the world and the Palestinians.

"I believe that a party should first and foremost defend its people's national interests," concluded the statement.

Livni also said that she and Olmert disagreed on several key points of Kadima's platform, especially when it came to the possibility of a unilateral withdrawal. "You can’t just throw a key to the other side and hope for the best, especially when in comes to Judea and Samaria."

Kadima will work towards the induction of a Palestinian state, she said, but Israel will insist that its borders be set according to three principles: "security, maintaining settlement blocs in order to keep as many Israelis as possible in their homes, and maintaining (sovereignty over) places which have national, historical or religious significance to the Jewish people, starting with Jerusalem."