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World Jewish News
Livni: Netanyahu is more extreme than Lieberman
01.03.2009
Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni is a "unity refusenik," sources close to prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday following his second meeting with Livni on Friday.
The failure to bridge gaps between the leaders of the two largest actions in the Knesset increases the likelihood that Netanyahu will seek a partnership with rightist factions in establishing his government.
In a round of talks Livni held with members of the Kadima faction, she said, "Netanyahu is more extreme than Lieberman, who doesn't rule out a two-state solution. Netanyahu isn't even willing to discuss it."
Senior figures in Kadima were critical of Livni's stance, saying that she would not even establish negotiating teams with Likud, although she conducted talks with the Palestinians for three years. Still, Netanyahu renewed his call to Livni to join his government in light of the security situation, citing the weekend rocket attack on Ashkelon and economic woes in a northern canning factory. "What happened over the weekend in Ashkelon, in Teheran and Pri Hagalil underscores the need for a strong unity government," he said.
Netanyahu is to meet Sunday or Monday with Labor chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to persuade him to open coalition talks with Likud.
However, senior Labor figures said Saturday that Barak might not want to part from the defense portfolio, but the faction would not allow him to enter a Netanyahu-led coalition.
Netanyahu said he had offered Kadima partnership in formulating the government platform, and two of the three senior ministerial posts. "I put off negotiations with the other factions and told Livni I intend to move forward in talks with the Palestinians, that we would implement reforms in the governing system and would try to find a solution on civil marriage. Unfortunately, I was utterly rejected."
"The meeting ended fruitlessly," Livni retorted. "Based on that meeting, I am not going to be part of a Netanyahu government."
Livni has rejected the demand of her party's number-two, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, to set up negotiating teams with Likud to jointly formulate the new government's platform. Sources close to Livni said on Saturday that such teams would not be established as long as Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to accept Kadima's guidelines, chief among them the two-state solution and a change in the system of government.
After the fruitless meeting between Netanyahu and Livni over the weekend, Mofaz told others in Kadima, "Unity is what the people want, and before slamming the door an attempt should be made to see if an understanding on the platform can be reached."
Mofaz is signaling to Livni that he is not giving up on a unity government, but it seems unlikely he will be able to muster a significant group in Kadima that would oppose Livni on the matter.
To ensure that a "revolt" was not brewing in the party, after her meeting with Netanyahu Friday, Livni spoke on the phone to Kadima ministers and MKs to explain why she refuses to enter talks with Likud. Kadima MKs appear to be looking for prominent positions they can fill in the opposition. One key role is faction chair, which is significant in the opposition as it seems to be taking form, with Kadima the largest faction in the Knesset. A number of veteran Kadima lawmakers are expected to vie for the position.
Netanyahu still has major headaches to deal with. Some of his fellow party members are sharply criticizing their chairman, saying that he is "about to give in" to what they call exaggerated demands for portfolios by Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman, which leave nothing for senior Likud figures. "If Bibi wants Lieberman in foreign affairs, [Daniel] Friedmann in justice and [Uzi] Landau in public security, he shouldn't be surprised if when he wants to swear in the government, the whole Likud won't be with him," a source said.
Sources also said allowing Lieberman to seek an appointment for Friedmann as justice minister when Lieberman was under criminal investigation was
"problematic."
Lieberman confirmed on Saturday on television Channel 2's "Meet the Press" that he had asked Netanyahu for defense, which he said he prefers "more than any other portfolio." However, Lieberman pledged that his demands for portfolios would not be an obstacle to joining a Netanyahu government.
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Источник: Haaretz
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