Following US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Israel, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said now is not the time for a permanent agreement with the Palestinians.
“A permanent agreement with the Palestinians is impossible in the current situation,” Livni said on Tuesday evening, following three days of intense diplomatic talks.
Livni told Kadima supporters at a rally in Netanya that the Palestinians are not abiding by the conditions set out by the Quartet.
“(Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas is disappointing us,” she said, “especially with regard to the issue of Gilad Shalit’s release. He had a chance to condition the establishment of the unity government on the kidnapped soldier’s release, but he chose not to.”
Livni still believes there is a chance for peace with the Palestinians and said, “All is not lost.”
“First of all it was agreed that we begin diplomatic dialogue that will protect our interests,” she said. “There are only winners in such a situation. We identified Israel’s and the Palestinian’s diplomatic horizon; there will be a return to the first phase of the Road Map, which demands that the Palestinians detach themselves from terror completely.”