The politically incorrect Tzipi Livni
Give Tzipi Livni some credit — she’s still keeping it real. Even with Israel’s upcoming election looking ever-tight, with Likud narrowing the margin, Livni’s not kowtowing to anyone. As a result, she’s been pissing off, well, pretty much everyone, Arabs and Jews alike. The Kadima party candidate might have made a misstep when, in an ...
Give Tzipi Livni some credit -- she's still keeping it real. Even with Israel's upcoming election looking ever-tight, with Likud narrowing the margin, Livni's not kowtowing to anyone. As a result, she's been pissing off, well, pretty much everyone, Arabs and Jews alike.
Give Tzipi Livni some credit — she’s still keeping it real. Even with Israel’s upcoming election looking ever-tight, with Likud narrowing the margin, Livni’s not kowtowing to anyone. As a result, she’s been pissing off, well, pretty much everyone, Arabs and Jews alike.
The Kadima party candidate might have made a misstep when, in an address students over the radio yesterday about her solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, said: “I will also be able to approach the Palestinian residents of Israel… and tell them: ‘Your national aspirations lie elsewhere.'”
While Livni was merely expanding on her idea “to have two distinct national entities,” she left the comment open ended. “Transferring” Israeli Arabs out of Israel is understandably a touchy subject, and one usually associated with hardline right-wingers. Needless to say, the Israeli Arab population took note and demanded that the PM hopeful define her position.
In true Livni style she clarified her statement on public radio but made no soft-ball apologies.
There is no question of carrying out a transfer or forcing them [Israeli Arabs] to leave…. I am willing to give up a part of the country over which I believe we have rights so that Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state in which citizens have equal rights, whatever their religion.”
All better, right? Not quite. Today it was the Jews turn to get offended at Livni truth-telling, this time over the return of Israeli soldier, Galid Shalit, who is being held by Hamas. “It’s not always possible to bring everyone home,” Livni said. Even as protestors piled up in front of her Tel Aviv home today, Livni would not take back her words.
Whether or not Livni is going to lose political ground here, she’s not pandering to anyone. Perhaps Livni knows better than most that you can’t please everyone all the time, especially in Israel.
Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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