Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni accused Syria of interfering with efforts to negotiate a deal that would result in kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit’s release.
Addressing a forum at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Livni said that the efforts today are crossing borders. It is not about territory, but the values between the radical and moderate.
Syria has also caused trouble within the Palestinian Authority, Livni alleged.
“It is not even about Syrian interest,” Livni said. “They want to dictate the Palestinian conflict.”
Concerning Iran, Livni said the Security Council made a decision in July that if the Iranians did not stop uranium enrichment, the international community would impose sanctions on Iran. And here already three months have passed and nothing has happened and now has come the time that the international community will place sanctions on Iran.
“From the point of view of the Security Council decision we are three months late,” Livni said.
Livni said Israel had lost a year of negotiations with the Palestinians after a Hamas victory in Palestinian elections. She said Hamas should not have been allowed to take part in the elections because they sponsor terrorism.
Livni believes in a two-state solution, and urged Palestinian moderates who share common ground with Israelis to work with them.