BICOM

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is leading Israel’s efforts to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, yesterday called on the international community to pressure Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to enter direct negotiations.

Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Livni outlined her thoughts on the peace process, saying “In the Middle East, the choice is between bad options, but doing nothing is more damaging.” Livni said that in order to help achieve progress, “[Abbas] needs to know that the Europeans, and the world, they want him to sit in the negotiating room, when there is hope to negotiate and hope to achieve peace.” In particular, she urged pressure from those countries which had supported the PA’s upgrade at the United Nations in November on the basis that it would strengthen Abbas’ ability to negotiate.

Livni reiterated that Abbas is Israel’s partner in negotiations, saying “I’m going to sign an agreement with someone [Abbas] with signature rights on an empty bank account, but I need his signature.” Speaking in Jordan at the weekend, Israel’s President Shimon Peres addressed Abbas saying ““you are our partner, and we are yours.”

Livni has met with US Secretary of State John Kerry several times over the past month in an attempt to kick-start talks between Israel and the PA. Addressing Kerry’s concerted efforts to bring the two sides together, Livni said “I truly believe that this kind of American involvement is important to both sides to enter into negotiations soon and I hope we can see, or open these negotiations in the near future.” She also highlighted the importance of a recent announcement by the Arab League, which softened its demands for a comprehensive peace with Israel, saying “The Palestinian leader needs the support of the Arab world to sign an agreement with Israel.”