Livni focuses on extremism and not Israel's occupation as cause of problems
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 10/23/2007

Israel's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni said yesterday, according to the Israeli Ministry Of Foreign Affairs in a speech that Israel is looking at regional problems from a new perspective. Livni focused on extremism and not Israel's occupation as cause of problems, saying:

It is now evidently true that the regional conflicts in the Middle East are not a cause of the extremism, but a result of this phenomenon. Recognition of the fact that extremism is at the root of our regional conflict has an impact on the understanding of the conflict and the Palestinian Israeli relations.

Israel and the pragmatic Arab world, including the moderate Palestinians, share the same battle. It is now clear that the true conflict in the region is not between Israel and the Palestinians, or between Jews and Arabs, but between moderates and extremists. Therefore, our policy must be a dual policy, one which combats the extremists and isolates them on the one hand, while at the same time strengthens the moderates and builds with them bridges of understanding and cooperation.

In the Israeli-Palestinian context, the split between extremists and moderates has now also been expressed by an additional dimension - the territorial dimension. With the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by the Hamas, we see a clear territorial distinction - the Hamas in Gaza and the Fatah in the West Bank. Therefore, our policy, as well, must make this distinction.

With the pragmatic leaders in the Palestinian Authority, we share a common vision and common objectives. We share the vision of two states, two homelands, giving an answer to the national aspirations of both sides, living side by side in peace and security. It is no longer perceived as a zero sum game.

It would, however, be naïve to assume that there are no differences of interests between the two sides. Therefore we must pursue a process and dialogue in order to bridge the differences. At the basis of such a process we must understand that the coordination of expectations is most important for success.

In the process, we want to bridge two gaps.

The first gap relates to the open issues between the two sides. We want to reach understandings on these open issues, based on the willingness of both sides to compromise. This includes also an understanding that both sides must also give up on some of their historical dreams.

The second gap is the gap between the understandings reached and the ability to implement them. There is no disputing the fact that there is a gap between the will of the pragmatic Palestinian leaders and their capability to execute.

Even if we do, hopefully, resolve the principle issues relating to the Palestinian state, it is clear that we cannot just separate and throw the key to the other side and hope for the best. The Gaza experience is a living example of what the world cannot afford. Israel fully withdrew from the Gaza Strip, thus terminating its so called occupation of the Strip, and allowing the Palestinians to establish independent governance. In return, we received increased terror, daily Kassam rocket attacks against cities in Israel and the establishment of a Hamas stronghold on our southern border. We must ensure that there is an efficient and effective government which takes control over the area and prevents attacks against Israel.

This gap can be bridged by the Road Map formula, according to which the first stage in the implementation of any agreement is the fight against terror and the dismantling of terror organizations.

Israel is prepared to engage in the process and the dialogue already now, with the understanding that the execution of any agreement depends on the implementation as stated in the Road Map. Insisting on the implementation of the Road Map is not an obstacle, but the opposite, it enables us to advance towards the realization of two states living in peace and security. The world cannot afford to allow the development of another terror state. Just as a Palestinian state is an Israeli interest, so Israeli security must be a Palestinian interest.

Previous Stories:
  Olmert views on making peace   (10/16/2007)
  Scores of Palestinians killed, arrested by Israeli soldiers   (10/16/2007)

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