Livni to Israeli Arabs: Look to Palestine

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The future Palestine should put an end to separatist claims by Israeli Arabs, Tzipi Livni said.

The Israeli foreign minister said Sunday that those who identify as Palestinian should have their national claims addressed by the future creation of a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“The Palestinian state is not just a national solution for Palestinians living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza,” she told reporters.

“It’s supposed to be a comprehensive national solution for Palestinians, including those in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, those in refugee camps abroad and those who are citizens of the State of Israel.”

Livni’s comments drew censure from across the Israeli political spectrum.

Right-wingers accused her of speaking prematurely of the creation of a Palestinian state given the terrorist threat emanating from the West Bank and Gaza.

The left wing said Livni risked calling into question the place of Israeli Arabs in the Jewish state, where they constitute 20 percent of the population.

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