Livni denies wanting to expel Arab-Israelis

Latest update: 14/12/2008

- Israel - Palestinian Territories - Tzipi Livni

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who will stand for election as prime minister in February's parliamentary elections, denied pushing Arab-Israelis to move out of Israel a day after saying their "national aspirations lie elsewhere.'"

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AFP - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who hopes to become prime minister after February elections, on Friday ruled out the expulsion of Arab-Israelis after a Palestinian state is created.

"The national aspirations (of the Arabs) should be realised elsewhere, but there is no question of carrying out a transfer or forcing them to leave," she told public radio.

"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," she said in reference to the creation of a Palestinian state.

On Thursday, Livni drew criticism for saying Israeli-Arabs who had national aspirations should move to a Palestinian state when it is established.

"My solution for maintaining a Jewish and democratic state of Israel is to have two distinct national entities," she told a group of secondary school students in Tel Aviv in remarks broadcast by army radio.

"And among other things I will also be able to approach the Palestinian residents of Israel, those whom we call Arab Israelis, and tell them: 'your national aspirations lie elsewhere.'"

Comments (3)

this reminds me of someone in history

by dave jones (not verified) - 14/12/2008 - 13:54

Saying people who don't belong to your race is so like the teachings of Hitler, it can only be referred to as ironic that the very people who were brutalised by Hitler would wish to do the same when they are in a position of power. The holocaust does not justify the systematic repression of a people, and the international community should not let their guilt at having failed to stop the holocaust be a reason for letting Israel violate the basic human rights of the Arabs.

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equal rights for ALL people

by john smith (not verified) - 14/12/2008 - 13:46

It is shocking to hear pepole react saying that Isreal should start all out war. So what if you fought in whatever war, it doesn't make you right. The Arabs are indigenous people of this land, and should be allowed to live in their homeland. Since when do the jews "own" isreal? So let me get this straight: If you fight for the rights of your people in their homeland, you are a fanatic and must be stopped, but any American who goes and kills in another country in the name of American economic and strategic interests, and also greed, you are a hero?
If Israel is serious about peace, they must pull out of the west bank totally, stop building settlements, and those who settled illegally in the west bank should be forced to leave the land they illegally occupy. Also, it is a joke for Israel to have nuclear weapons capability, but Iran must be stopped at all costs for protecting themselves. If history has taught us one lesson, it is that you can't hold on to what is not rightfully yours.