Israel, Saudis speaking same language on Iran: Livni
10/24/2013 5:22:29 PM
Saudi Arabia and Israel are united in their opposition to Iran, but they cannot cooperate as long the Palestinian conflict continues, Israel's chief peace negotiator said on Thursday.
"When you hear the Saudis talking about what needs to be done in order to prevent a (nuclear-armed) Iran, I mean it sounds familiar," said Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister who is leading talks with the Palestinians.
"I think that you can hear that Arabic sounds familiar to Hebrew when it comes to Iran," she said, making a rare public linkage between the goals of Israel and Saudi Arabia, which have long been enemies and have no diplomatic ties.
Livni, however, suggested that was unrealistic, telling a conference organised by the Jerusalem Post that Arab states first wanted to see progress in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking before contemplating any change of policy toward Israel.
"In order to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, we need to cooperate with those (who) understand that Iran is a threat to them as well," she said, speaking in English.
"But unfortunately, the open conflict with the Palestinians makes it impossible or very difficult for them to act with Israel."
"When you hear the Saudis talking about what needs to be done in order to prevent a (nuclear-armed) Iran, I mean it sounds familiar," said Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister who is leading talks with the Palestinians.
"I think that you can hear that Arabic sounds familiar to Hebrew when it comes to Iran," she said, making a rare public linkage between the goals of Israel and Saudi Arabia, which have long been enemies and have no diplomatic ties.
Livni, however, suggested that was unrealistic, telling a conference organised by the Jerusalem Post that Arab states first wanted to see progress in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking before contemplating any change of policy toward Israel.
"In order to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, we need to cooperate with those (who) understand that Iran is a threat to them as well," she said, speaking in English.
"But unfortunately, the open conflict with the Palestinians makes it impossible or very difficult for them to act with Israel."