USA: On the eve of the resumption of peace talks with Palestinians in Washington D.C., Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni says Israel cannot afford to be optimistic, but "there is hope".

Record ID: 349719

  • Title: USA: On the eve of the resumption of peace talks with Palestinians in Washington D.C., Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni says Israel cannot afford to be optimistic, but "there is hope".
  • Date: 30th July 2013
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C. UNITED STATES (JULY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) ISRAELI CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TZIPI LIVNI WALKING WITH AIDES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TZIPI LIVNI SAYING: "Well, we are, after about four years of stagnation, and in the past we negotiated but we didn't reach a dead-end, so basically I hope that there is a bit of understanding now that this is in t
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2013 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5Y3SJVB8PDHRTNYJ5NSJ12FX3
  • Story Text: Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni said Monday (July 29) that resuming peace talks is in the interest of both peoples.

    "After about four years of stagnation, and in the past we negotiated but we didn't reach a dead-end, so basically I hope that there is a bit of understanding now that this is in the interest of both of our peoples to reach an agreement and to end this conflict," she said.
    Livni was speaking from her hotel in downtown Washington D.C. before heading for a dinner with the Palestinians hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

    "We live in a tough neighborhood. To be optimistic is something that we cannot afford. But there is some hope," she said.
    Livni also said that she hoped Israelis will be encouraged by the resumption of peace talks.

    "I hope that when in Israel they see the first meeting they will understand that we should not give up hope, and it is reachable and we need to do it, because it is in the Israeli interest. It is not a favor to the United States or to the Palestinians, this is something that we need to do," she said.
    Both sides are meeting in Washington after five years of diplomatic stalemate.
    In a sign of the challenges, the parties differed in public about the agenda for the talks, with an Israeli official saying all issues would be discussed simultaneously and a Palestinian official saying they would start with borders and security. But Livni said in response, that only Kerry will be speaking publicly about the talks.

    "The understanding with the United States is that in order to succeed we would not share (with) the public what is going to happen in the negotiating room and Secretary Kerry is the only one that can speak on behalf of all of us, so I am not going to enter this discussion publicly, we are going to discuss it in the negotiating room," she said.
    The talks, slated to last nine months, were set to begin at the State Department over an Iftar dinner - the evening meal at which Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast - at 8 p.m. on Monday (0000 GMT on Tuesday), U.S. officials said.
    They are due to continue on Tuesday, when Kerry is expected to make an announcement on the next steps.
    The talks will be conducted by senior aides to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Israel's Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho - and to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - represented by Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Ishtyeh.
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