Kerry confirms US will veto Palestinian statehood resolution after talks with Livni and Peres
There are strong reactions in the political system following a statement by US Secretary of State John Kerry that “Washington will prevent any UN resolution against Israel until after the elections in March,” following a conversation he had with Tzipi Livni and former president Shimon Peres. “I am proud that I managed to help maintain Israel’s vital interests in the Security Council,” Livni said following the release.
But Israeli political responses to what they accomplished did not take long.
From his headquarters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to what Livni said to the Secretary of State: “The real faces of Tizipi and Yitzhak have been exposed. Immediately after the elections they are going to back off and allow the construction of a second Hamaa-stan in Judea and Samaria.”
Chairman of the Jewish Home, Minister Naftali Bennett also attacked the words of MK Livni: “Tzipi Livni stooped to the lowest point of the race. Behind the back of the sitting government, she scheduled operations that will harm Israel, and everything to hurt Bibi/Bennett.” He said further, “According to Livni, Israel is an apologetic country, and is governed by political interests.”
Minister Bennett added that he “expects opposition leader MK Yitzhak Herzog, to discipline Livni, who in recent days has abandoned the official political line and has created an atmosphere of incitement, anarchy, and is dangerous to the political campaign.”
Deputy Minister Ophir Akonis claimed that “The Herzog-Livni duo is dangerous to Israel. They are more interested in narrow political interests than national interests. Ms. Livni, who has failed for years at negotiations with the Palestinians, is giving advice to the American foreign minister, just to promote her own personal political interests.”
Livni responded to accusations against her during a communal candle lighting event hosted by her and Herzog for hundreds of activists in Ra’anana. “Netanyahu’s policy has led Israel to international isolation. Together we will lead responsibly for the good of the state, and in the political and security interests of Israel. We will continue to tell everyone in the world–do not hurt the State of Israel. We do not do politics, we use our diplomatic relations in favor of the state, and no one will talk to us about patriotism, “said Livni.
Labor chairman Herzog reacted to and criticized the comments from the right: “I heard Bennett attacked Tzipi Livni tonight. The extreme right should not dare give us grades nor should they dare teach us what is best for the state. Netanyahu and the extreme right in Israel have deteriorated the country to a low point politically, socially, and killed the hope. Instead of a discourse of hatred and division, let us bring connection and cooperation.”
Amir Peretz, from the Movement party appeared alongside Livni: “The outburst of Israeli rightists against Livni and Peres shows helplessness–that the Prime Minister is trying in every way to prevent the approval of proposals concerning the Palestinian state at the United Nations. This is exactly what Livni and Peres did: they prevented a decision at the UN out of patriotism to Israel, and not political considerations.”
By Gal Cohen/www.jerusalemonline.com
