Livni: We were negotiating with the Americans, not Palestinians

The Israeli Minister of Justice and chief negotiator Tzipi Livni said that negotiations of the past eight months have been mainly with the Americans, not with the Palestinian Authority.

In an interview with the Israeli Channel 2 Saturday, Livni accused the Palestinian Authority of spoiling American efforts to get out of the last tunnel by reaching out to international organisations and wasting the opportunity to reach “a package agreement” in cooperation with the US Administration.

“The past week was not easy,” Livni said, “the Palestinians violated their commitments. This time we should exercise self-restraint.”

Asked whether the PA President Mahmoud Abbas remains a partner for peace despite his latest move, Livni said he must prove that.

Regarding the Israeli Housing Minister’s announcement of building hundreds of settlement units in Gilo, Jerusalem, Livni said he did that with the purpose of hindering any progress in the peace process.

Livni described her last meeting with the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat as “very tough”. She added that despite all difficulties, she will not give up on the peace process and will continue working for the sake of reaching an agreement.