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Livni, Kerry Meet in Bid to Renew Peace Talks
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni met Thursday in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, where they discussed the peace process as well as regional developments, particularly Syria. Livni has been charged with heading Israel's team negotiating with the Palestinians when talks are renewed. An Israeli official said there is close coordination between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Obama administration on the new U.S. diplomatic initiative. Meanwhile, Netanyahu added to the impression that talks with the Palestinians may start again soon by saying on Thursday he was interested in a referendum on any future agreement with the Palestinians. A government official said Netanyahu - mindful of the Oslo Accords, which passed by a single vote in the Knesset - believes if you are going to take a decision that will contain extremely difficult steps, it will necessitate "very special national legitimacy," the type that can be granted only through a referendum. While the official said that the sides were a very long way off from an agreement that might necessitate a referendum, "there are intensive and serious efforts under way to restart the peace talks."