Livni: Israel wants to be Jewish country
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/13/2007

Addressing the Israeli lobby AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C., Israel's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni said according the Israeli Foreign Ministry that "When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, our vision for peace is drawn from the ultimate goal of Israel, the reason for its existence - to be a Jewish and democratic state, secure in our ancient homeland."

Livni added "We want to live in peace. We have no desire to control Palestinian lives. We deserve security. Our children deserve a future, free of hate and full of hope."

She did not say Palestinians ejected from their homes inside what is described now as Israel can return. She said "Based on these core principles, the vision of peace is clear: Two states, two homelands, for two peoples - Israel, homeland for the Jewish people wherever they may be. And Palestine, the homeland, the national answer for the Palestinian people, wherever they may be, including the refugees."

She added "Two states living in peace and security - the meaning of this is also clear. The future state of Palestine cannot be a terror state. And that is why President Bush's vision and the Roadmap insist that the road to statehood goes through the elimination of terrorism. This is not a zero sum-game. This vision is not pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian. It is pro-peace.

"Israel has made its choice. Across Israeli society we have embraced this vision, and accepted the sacrifices that come with it. The disengagement plan proved this. With great pain, we uprooted families from their homes in order to create an opportunity for peace.

"Sadly, we received terror in return. And yet, we have not stopped hoping that the Palestinians will make their choice for peace. Unfortunately, in the last elections they chose Hamas, a terrorist organization driven by an extreme religious ideology. Hamas's goal is not to create a Palestinian state, but to destroy the Jewish one.

"The international community, through the Quartet, has repeatedly insisted that any Palestinian government must fully commit to three core principles: renunciation of terror, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. These requirements are not obstacles to peace, but fundamental principles for peace."

Previous Stories:
  Israeli authorities bar 6-month- old sick infant entry into hospital   (3/6/2007)
  Livni asks for EU to keep pressure on Hamas   (3/6/2007)
  Father Musallam: Peace for Jerusalem, Jerusalem for Peace   (2/26/2007)

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