Monday, October 26, 2009

Netanyahu and Opposition leader Livni meet after months of tension and enraged behavior towards the PM

(Haaretz).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni on Monday, the first such meeting in months.

Livni, who served as foreign minister during the Olmert administration, will visit Moscow on Tuesday at the invite of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The former foreign minister is expected to raise the matter of Iran's nuclear program during her talks with Lavrov. Livni met with Netanyahu to coordinate positions on the issue before departing for Moscow.

The relationship between Livni and Netanyahu has been characterized by tension and antagonism. The prime minister updated Livni on the government's latest position on Iran following the recent agreement reached by Tehran with the International Atomic Energy Agency on uranium enrichment.

In addition, Livni is expected to discuss the Goldstone report during her talks with Lavrov.

The opposition chief will request that the Russians oppose referral of the report, which accuses Israel of war crimes during its military offensive against Hamas last winter in Gaza, to the UN Security Council.

Livni aides said on Monday that her trip to Russia was also coordinated with the current foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman.