Livni opposes rush to 67 borders

Last update - 10:09 11/11/2008       
Livni distances herself from Olmert comments on '67 borders
By Haaretz Service

 

Kadima Chairwoman and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni distanced herself Tuesday from outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent assertion that Israel needs to return to its pre-1967 borders.

 

"I as Kadima Chairwoman am not committed to the outgoing prime minister's comments - but to Kadima's platform, and this is what determines exactly how we will hold negotiations," said Livni, speaking in an interview with Army Radio.

 

Olmert called on Monday for withdrawing from the territories and "returning to the area that was Israel until 1967."

 

Livni continued: "Between myself and Olmert there have been differences. When I wrote the platform of Kadima, upon its establishment, Olmert spoke in terms of 'consolidation.'

 

"You can't just throw the key to the other side and hope for the best, especially not in Judea and Samaria."

 

She was referring to the plan for a pullout from the West Bank touted by Olmert when he headed Kadima's 2006 electoral bid. Livni herself will be seeking to bring the ruling Kadima party victory in the upcoming general elections in February.

 

However, Livni did affirm the importance of continuing peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, and of reaching a final agreement based on territorial compromise.

 

"We want to maintain a safe state in Israel and this cannot be done on all of it. We need to finish the conflict with the Palestinians and look out for the security of our citizens," she told Army Radio.