Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., March 14, 2008 Adar2 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (Daniel Bar-On / Jini) Last update - 21:17 09/03/2008 FM to U.S. envoy: Conditions not ripe for forming Palestinian state By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: Israel, Egypt, Gaza Strip  Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday told visiting U.S. envoy James Jones that that the creation of a Palestinian state amid the current situation in the Gaza Strip and ongoing attacks on Israelis was not in line with Israel's security demands. "Israel is obligated to respond to terror, and every process must offer a unilateral response to its security needs," said Livni. "The creation of a Palestinian state is not the required answer to Israel's security needs." The foreign minister said a future Palestinian state must comprise officials "who want not only to live in peace with Israel, but are also able to fight terror and promise the realization of all of its security needs." Advertisement This need is essential "not just prior to the creation of the Palestinian state but also after its establishment," she added. The foreign minister will head out Sunday night for a three-day tour in the United States for talks on the Gaza situation and other relevant issues. During her visit, Livni will meet with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On Thursday, a U.S. envoy, Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, is scheduled to arrive in the region for his first joint meeting with Israelis and Palestinians. President George W. Bush appointed Fraser in January to monitor implementation of the U.S.-backed road map peace plan - which among other things calls on Israel to freeze all settlement activity. The plan also calls on the Palestinians to rein in militant groups - a step Israel says has not been fulfilled. Defense official visits Cairo for talks on Gaza calm Meanwhile, a senior Defense Ministry official visited Cairo on Sunday in order to discuss ways to restore calm to the Gaza Strip with Egypt's point man for the Palestinian situation, the Egyptian presidential spokesman said. Amos Gilad met with Egypt's head of intelligence, Lt. Gen. Omar Suleiman to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip and the meetings between Egyptian officials and the members of Hamas. "Gilad came to be briefed by Suleiman over Egypt's assessment for the situation [in Gaza Strip] and the ways to restore calm, according to what we have been informed by our security officials' meetings with Hamas representatives," presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad told reporters following the meeting. He refused to elaborate further. Egypt has been meeting regularly with Hamas officials and is exploring a truce deal between Israel and Hamas that would stop rocket fire on Israel in exchange for an end to Israeli attacks on militants. Hamas is also looking to have the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, which has been closed since June, reopened to trade and travel. Israel has refused to comment on Egypt's mediation efforts, but Gilad's visit suggests that a truce with Hamas, following weeks of air strikes and rocket firing, could be under consideration. Suleiman was scheduled to visit Israel last week but he delayed his trip due to an Israel operation in the Strip in which more than 100 Palestinians were killed Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah scare Lebanese group's influence has dramatically increased in the West Bank. Literary boycott Peres calls Muslim countries' shunning of Paris Book Fair 'most ridiculous.'   1.   this erial story as gone on as long as oprah 18:03  |  v hardman 09/03/08   2.   Hardman: Talks with moderates must continue 19:05  |  B (The other one) 09/03/08   3.   not forming one also a threat to Israeli security 19:29  |  steve 09/03/08   4.   this is nothing to do with security just Livnis political career 19:29  |  zionist forever 09/03/08   5.   How can she say this with a straight face? 19:32  |  Tim 09/03/08   6.   kis the idea of a palestinian state good bye,and all you pals 20:04  |  terrornator 09/03/08   7.   Tzipi Livni: "Amid current conditions" 20:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/03/08   8.   So 20:06  |  RM 09/03/08   9.   Peace in incremental steps. 20:12  |  sandra chitayat 09/03/08   10.   Palestinian State is an artificial old idea. 20:18  |  Vital 09/03/08   11.   FINALLY, COMMON SENSE 20:22  |  Robert 09/03/08   12.   Creation of Palestine state 20:23  |  jack 09/03/08   13.   More stalling, excuses and whining 20:31  |  betz55 09/03/08   14.   Pal state should be off the table until they accept Jewish state 20:50  |  Sam 09/03/08   15.   #10 Vital 20:58  |  ballistic 09/03/08   16.   So Sam 21:09  |  Dave Duncan 09/03/08   17.   Wtll There Ever Be A Time??? 21:15  |  Cool B 09/03/08   18.   not a good idea 21:22  |  rm 09/03/08   19.   At last ! A massage for the Palestinian people ! 21:34  |  Akram Zekaria 09/03/08   20.   So easy: Let em have a country of their own, and... 21:50  |  Protected Civilian 09/03/08   21.   7 Swiss (Dino) - What She Means 21:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/03/08   22.   @Lebanese Tim in Toronto 21:55  |  Anette 09/03/08   23.   4 Zionist Forever - And Current Job Security 21:56  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/03/08   24.   #3 They already have their own state 21:59  |  Gili 09/03/08   25.   I thought the security barrier will meet Israel`s security demand 22:02  |  Dana 09/03/08   26.   I thought the security barrier will meet Israel`s security demand 22:47  |  Mark Lincoln 09/03/08   27.   # 19 Mark of Lewiston 22:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/03/08   28.   Swiss #7 .....just when you think it`s in the palm 22:55  |  Lynn 09/03/08   29.   PALS don`t deserve reward 22:59  |  PK 09/03/08   30.   # 7 Swiss...BTW, they should have never killed those kids 22:59  |  Lynn 09/03/08   31.   Accelerate the piece process with more Jewish settlement 23:00  |  Steve 09/03/08   32.   B Cool: Will there ever be a time? 23:38  |  B (The other one) 09/03/08   33.   12 Jack,that`s easy.The Palestinians already have a state, 00:20  |  lakshmi 10/03/08   34.   two great already existing Pal states- Jordan, Egypt 00:38  |  dav zee 10/03/08   35.   not ripe? how about rotten! 00:45  |  jewish doctor 10/03/08   36.   Nasreddin Hoca 01:02  |  Nixo 10/03/08   37.   Hodja 2. The Contrary Mother-in-Law 01:12  |  Nixo 10/03/08   38.   NOT RIPE, that`s the understatement of the century 01:13  |  Doc Holliday 10/03/08   39.   And the winner of the George Orwell 1984 doubletalk award is ... 01:20  |  Chanalau, Tova 10/03/08   40.   Hoca 3 - The recipe ! 01:27  |  Nixo 10/03/08   41.   25 Swiss (Dino) - Israelis Are Victims 01:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/03/08   42.   Say again, luvvie? 02:10  |  Johnboy 10/03/08   43.   Livini. do NOT leave Israel... 02:18  |  Jeff 10/03/08   44.   # 14 Sam 02:23  |  Bobby 10/03/08   45.   No state, give them rights 03:33  |  Harold 10/03/08   46.   The should declare independence at the Green Line 03:34  |  Harold 10/03/08   47.   Occupation 15:44  |  robcph 10/03/08   48.   conditions note ripe for forming palistinian state 16:31  |  marc 10/03/08   49.   48# marc. Islam & Arabs are living to day above the law. 21:36  |  Akram Zekaria 10/03/08   50.   #45, You`re probably right. 01:03  |  Che Vive 11/03/08   51.   You can have peace anytime you choose. 02:05  |  ahmed from bahrain 11/03/08   52.   a long, long way to go 05:57  |  sandgroper 11/03/08   53.   Anytime is good for peace. 11:24  |  ahmed from bahrain 12/03/08   54.   State 20:38  |  John 14/03/08

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