[Ha'aretz] Raphael Ahren - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told visiting leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Monday that Israel must give up part of its land "in order to remain a Jewish and democratic state." "Israel is fighting for existence not only because it's the only democracy in the Middle East, but also because it's the only Jewish state in the world." She also said Israel must take the initiative and come forward with its own peace plan to head off international programs. "Any plan put on the table will not be in our interest," she said. She appealed to the U.S. not to participate in the UN-sponsored Durban II anti-racism conference, set to be held in Geneva this April, which is expected to be an anti-Israel forum. "Israel expects the free world not to participate in Durban II," she said. The Conference of Presidents comprises 51 member organizations representing virtually all political and religious streams of America Jewry; from the Orthodox Union to the Union of Reform Judaism, as well as the American Friends of Likud and the local branches of Peace Now.
2009-02-17 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive