In an interview with Army Radio, the justice minister, who is also responsible for peace talks, responds to Erdogan's call for Palestinian unity saying that the Turkish PM's perception of Hamas is incorrect.
By TAMARA ZIEVEKerry and Livni 370(photo credit: REUTERS)
There is no chance that Israel could reach a peace agreement with Hamas, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said Saturday evening in an interview with Army Radio.Livni - the minister responsible for peace talks - was referring to remarks made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday that Fatah-Hamas reconciliation is imperative to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.She added that Erdogan views Hamas positively, and this has been his stance for years. "This perception is not correct" she said. "Hamas represents an Islamic ideology that does not recognize Israel's existence. Hamas prefers to isolate itself than to say that Israel has the right to exist or to renounce violence."Livni added that US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is set to visit Israel in the coming week, is determined to re-ignite the peace process. "When the US wants to bring about negotiations, it is certainly a positive thing because this represents our interest," she said. "My encounters with Kerry show that he has an honest belief that it is possible to solve the conflict, and that solution is an interests for the Israelis, Americans and Palestinians." Livni also told Army Radio that advanced weapons supplied by Russia to war-torn Syria could end up in the wrong hands and be used against Israel."(Weapons) could reach others in Syria or Lebanon and be used against Israel," she said."These are not just any weapons, they are tie-breakers, and that's why there is a responsibility with all world powers, certainly Russia, not to supply such arms," Livni said, adding that Israel had the right to defend itself.Reuters contributed to this report
