Touching on next week�s visit of US President, Barack Obama, MK Tzipi Livni, speaking at the 13th annual Herzliya Conference said it was a �wonderful opportunity for the new government of the State of Israel � to create that crucial dialogue between Israel and the United states. We have to create that anew � I believe that next week there�s going to be a new opportunity to create a dialogue on a matter of principles and to mold a mutual understanding that these are Israel�s interests.�

She said that while everyone was talking about this visit being a one-off event, �let�s not forget this is a global village � even when he is there, there are various channels of communications.�

Opening the panel on �Is the Israeli-Palestinian impasse breakable?� Livni dedicated much of her address to stressing the need for �two states for two peoples,� explaining that it is �critical for us to reach a final status agreement� with the Palestinians. It has �Been an open wound since 1867 � has to be healed … Having two states for two nations is the most basic and only interest of the Jewish people.� It�s the �only way we can preserve the existence of a democratic Jewish state.�

She said �there are only two options between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan, or two separate states or one state � just as the Palestinians need to know that there are Jews between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, we need to know that there are Palestinians in the same place.�

Livni said, �In the negotiation room we need to stop talking about who has the greater right to be here � We have to see how we can create more than just a shared life � we need to see whether we can live together, even though I don�t want to live together, I want a divorce.�

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)